Address On U.N., Recorded In Washington, Given Rotary Club

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27491, 27 October 1954, Page 13

Address On U.N., Recorded In Washington, Given Rotary Club

a<^ dre ? s specially recorded in h 4! h i ngt ? n J? y the New Zealand Ambassador to the United States and delegate to the United Nations, Mr L. K. Munro was heard yesterday by memPhlt? Rotary Club of Christchurch. The address was the result 2i. k s YF ge^tion f rom a member of the club, Mr J. S. Stannage, some months ago, and was timed to coincide as -e arly as possible with United Nations Day (October 24). ■^ r Munro, whose voice was clear ° n o uistmct in the amplified tape recording, addressed his unseen audie2.ce j 3S v “bellow Rotarians.” He had attended a great many Rotary luncheons and had spoken at a few of them, but he never expected to speak to a meeting from 10,000 miles away, he said.

One of our most vital purposes is to keep open the channels of communication (provided by the United Nations) so that one day they may be used for conciliation and eventual peace, ’ said Mr Munro, quoting the Canadian delegate (Mr Lester Pearw”2t_ on .!^ a aims of the United Nations. With all its faults, said Mr Munro, the organisation was the only body that could hope to achieve this. “Sheer Efficiency”

The ‘sheer efficiency” of the services provided for meetings at the United Nations headquarters was described by Mr Munro. The meeting rooms, the seating accommodation, the simultaneous translations of speeches, and the rapid completion of documents a ** to be desired, he said. Apart from the location of the headquarters in such a large, restless city as New York, he could scarcely imagine a better organisation for holdin^n. a large international conference. The simultaneous translation into several languages of each delegate’s speech—the practice at most meetings —created an informal, “round-the-table” atmosphere conducive to rapid dispatch of the business, Mr Munro said. Among the multitude of delegates, “one hes one’s particular friends, although there are naturally a large number of neutral faces.” Mr Munro said that, whatever their differences in public, the diplomats who comprised the various delegations did not let these impair their personal relationships. The opening of each session of the General Assembly presented the opportunity for each delegate to state his

country’s views on matters that seemed most important to them, he said. Although the opportunity was abused by some delegates, the opening debate served a very useful purpose. After reviewing some of the highlights of the latest session of the General Assembly, Mr Munro paid a tribute to the United Nations SecretaryGeneral (Mr Dag Hammarskjold), who, he said, went about his duties “with tact and vigour.” “I believe it is important that New Zealand should continue to play an active part in the United Nations.” said Mr Munro. . With her ideals and social experience, New Zealand has a sensible and reasonable point of view to put forward, and deserves to be heard. “We can make a useful contribution to many world problems. In the consideration of the various technical assistance programmes, a relatively n on-industrialised country may have something to offer undeveloped countries from its own scientific and industrial experience. “We in New Zealand should use this opportunity to keep in touch with the delegates of other countries, and explain ourselves. Nothing but good can come of that.” Years of Travail

In the nine years of the organisation’s existence, the world had passed through several years of travail, said Mr Munro. “We have learned a lot and gained a lot of experience,” he said. “It is our business to make the United Nations a success. I am convinced that we shall, and I am further convinced that we must,” he concluded. A tribute to the work of Mr Munro in Washington, and New York was paid by Mr W. G. V. Fernie, a member of the club, who said he had recently, while visiting the United States, spent a morning with Mr Munro. Mr Munro was the only United Nations delegate who was doing another job at the same time, he said.

The president of the Christchurch branch of the United Nations Association (Mr W. R. Lascelles) reviewed the achievements of the United Nations since its inception, and said it was an indictment of New Zealand and of Christchurch that the Christchurch association numbered only 300 members. “Surely, in a city of 200,000 people, w r e can count a thousand men and women prepared to strike a blow for freedom,” he said.