BLUEPRINT FOR WORLD SECURITY

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 14, 11 October 1944, Page 7

BLUEPRINT FOR WORLD SECURITY

Proposals To PeaceLoving Nations FORCE AND SOCIAL CO-OPERATION (British Official Wireless.) (Received October 10, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, October 9. The preliminary proposals by the British, American, Russian, and Chinese delegations to the Dumbarton Oaks conversations on general international organization were published today m London, Washington, Moscow, and Chungking. . . ~ c -.ii - It is proposed that there should be a General Assembly of all the United Nations, a Security Council with five permanent and six non-permanent members, an International Court of Justice, an Economic and Social Council, and a Secretariat. The draft sets out proposals for the pacific settlement ot disputes, for the prevention and suppression of aggression by international methods and regional arrangements, and for Internationa economic and social co-operation.

The statement indicates in detail a wide range of subjects on which agreement was readied. The four Governments represented in the discussions agreed tiiat after further study of these proposals they will as soon as possible take' the necessary steps with a view to the preparation of complete proposals which could then servo as a basis for discussion at a United Nations conference.

They agreed that there should be established an international organization under the title The United Nations, the charter of which should contain provisions necessary to give effect to the proposals which follow. ’ Chapter One sets out the purpose of the organization. These are: (1) To maintain international peace and security and to that end to take effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to peace and the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace, and to bring about by peaceful means adjustment or settlement of international disputes which may lead to a breach of the peace. (2) To develop friendly relations among the nations and take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace. (3) To achieve international co-opera-tion and the solution of international economic. social and other humanitarian problems. . . (4) To afford a centre for harmonizing the actions of the nations in the achievement of these common ends.

Principles Declared

Chapter Two sets forth the principles in accordance with which the organization and its members should act, which are: (1) The organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all peace-loving States. (2) All the members undertake, in order to ensure to all the rights and'benefits resulting from membership, to. fulfil the obligations assumed by them in accordance witli the charter. (3) All the members shall settle disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security are not endangered. (4) All the members shall refrain in international relations from threats or the usd of fo-ce in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the organization.

(5) They shall give every assistance to the organization in any action undertaken by it in accordance with the provisions of the charter. (6) All the members shall refrain from giving assistance to any State against which preventive or enforcement action is being undertaken. The organization should ensure that the States which are not members act in accordance with these principles so far as may be necessary for the maintenance of international peace and security. Chapter Three says: “Membership of the organization should be open to all .peace-loving States.” Chapter Four lists the four principal organs of the organization, and says it should have such subsidiary agencies as may be found necessary.

General Assembly Chapter Five provides for the General Assembly. AU members of the organization should be members of the Assembly and have the number of representatives to be specified in the charter. The Assembly should have the right to consider general principles of co-operation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments, to discuss any questions in relation to the maintenance of international peace and security which are brought before it by any member of the organization or by the Security Council, and to make recommendations with regard to any such principles or questions. Any such questions on which action is necessary should be referred to the Council by the Assembly before or after discussions. The Assembly should not on its own initiative make recommendations on any matter relating to the maintenance of peace which is being dealt with by the Council. The Assembly should be empowered to admit new members upon the recommendation of the Council. The Assembly should, upon the recommendation of ■the Council, be empowered to suspend from the exercise of any rights or privileges the membership of any member against which preventive or enforcement action shall be taken by the Council. Exercise of rights and privileges may be restored by the Council. The Assembly should be empowered, upon the recommendation of the Security Council, to expel from the organization any member who persistently violates the principles contained in the charter. The Assembly would elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of the Economic and Social Council. It should be empowered to elect, upon the recommendation of the Security Council, the Secretary-General of the organization. It should perform such functions in relation to the election of the judges of the Interntaional Court as may be conferred upon it by statute of the Court. The Assembly should apportion its expenses among the members and bo empowered to approve the budgets of the organization. Promoting Co-operation. The Assembly should initiate studies and make, recommendations for promoting international co-operation in the political, economic, and social fields, and adjusting situations which arc likely to impair the general welfare. The Assembly should make recommendations for coordination of policies of international, economic, social, and other specialized agencies brought into relation with the organization. The Assembly should receive annual and special reports from the Security Council and the other bodies of the organization.

Further international security proposals state that each member of the organization should have one vote in the Assembly. Important decisions of the Assembly—including recommendations with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security, the election of members of the Security Council and the Econmoic and Social Council, the admission of members, suspension of the exercise of rights and privileges and the expulsion of members, . and budgetary questions—should be made by a twothirds majority of those present and voting. On other questions decisions should be made by majority vote. The Assembly should meet in annual sessions and special sessions as occasion might require. It should adopt, its own procedure and elect a. president of each session. It should be empowered to set up such bodies.and agencies as it may deem, necessary.

Security Council

Chapter Six deals with the Security Council. This should consist of one representative of each of, 11 members. Representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, the U.S.S.R., China, and, in due course, France, should have permanent seats, and the Assembly should elect six States to fill tfie nonpermanent seats. Those six States should be elected for two years, three retiring each year, and they should not pe immediately eligible for re-election. In the first election of non-permanent mem’ bars three should be chosen by the Assembly for terms of one year and three for terms of two years. To ensure prompt and effective action the members should confer on the Council the primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and should agree that in carrying out these duties it should get on their behalf. The Council should act in accordance with the purposes and principles of the organization. All members should obligate themselves to accept the decisions of the Council and carry them out in accordance with the provisions of the charter. To promote the establishment and maintenance of peace with the least diversion of the world’s human and economic resources for armament the Council, with the assistance of a Military Staff Committee, should have the responsibility for formulating plans for the establishment of a system of regulation of armaments for submission to the members of the organization. The voting procedure in the Security Council is still under consideration. The Council should be so organized as to be able to function continuously, and each State member of the Council should be permanently represented at the headquarters. It may hold meetings at such other places as in its judgment may best facilitate its work.' There should be periodic meetings at which each member of the Council could, if it so desired, be represented by members of its Government or other special representative. The Council should be empowered to set up such bodies or agencies as it may deem necessary, including regional subcommittees of the Military Staff Committee. It should adopt its own rules of procedure, including the method of selecting its president. Any member should participate in discussion of any question brought before the Council whenever the Council considers the interest of that member specially affected. Any member not having a seat on the Council and any State not a member of the organization, if a party to a dispute under consideration by the Council, should be invited to participate in the discussion relating to the dispute. Court of Justice. Chapter Seven states that the International Court of Justice should constitute the principal judicial organ. The Court should be constituted in accordance with a statute which should be part of the charter. The conditions under which States that are not members of the organization may become parties to the statute should be determined in each case by the Assembly upon a recommendation by the Council.

Prevent And Suppress Aggression

Chapter Eight, which is of supreme importance, gets out arrangements for international peace and security, including the prevention and suppression of aggression. The first part provides for pacific settlement of disputes. The Council should be empowered to investigate any dispute or situation which may lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute in order to determine whether its continuance is likely to endanger the maintenance of peace. Any State, whether a member of the organization or not, may bring any such dispute or situation to the attention of the Assembly or Council. i Parties to any dispute the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of peace and security should obligate themselves first to seek a solution by negotiations, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement or other peaceful means of their own choice. The Council should in each case decide whether or not the continuance of the dispute is in fact likely to endanger peace and, accordingly, whether the Council should deal with the dispute, and if so, whether it should take action under Para, graph Five. Paragraph Five states that the Security Council should be empowered at any stage of a dispute to recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment. Justifiable disputes should normally be referred to the Court of Justice. The Council should be empowered to refer to the Court for advice legal questions connected with other disputes. The foregoing provisions of Chapter Eight should not apply to situations or disputes arising out of matters which by international law are solely within the domestic jurisdiction of the State concerned. Section B of. Chapter Eight deals with the determination of threats to peace or acts of aggression and action with respect thereto. Should the Council deem that, failure to settle a dispute in accordance with the procedure indicated above or in accordance with its recommendations constitutes a threat to the maintenance of peace and security it should take such action by air, naval or land forces as may be necessary to maintain or restore peace and security. Such action may include demonstrations, blockade ami other operations by the air, sea or land forces'of the members. Air Force Contingents. In order that all members should contribute to the maintenance of peace and security they should undertake to make available Io the Council on its call and in accordance with special agreement, or agreements concluded among themselves the armed forces, facilities and assistance necessary for maintaining peace and security. .Such agreements should govern the numbers and types of forces and the nature of facilities and assistance Io be provided. Special agreements should be negotiated as soon as possible and iu each case be subject to approval by the Council and ratification by the signatory States. To enable urgent military measures to be taken there should be held immediately available by the members national air force contingents for combined international enforcement action. The strength and degree of readiness of these contingents and plans for their combined action should be determined by the Council with the assistance of the Military Staff Committee within tiie limits laid down in the special agreements. Action required to carry out the decisions of the Council for the maintenance of peace and security should be taken by alj the members in co-operation or by some, as the Council may determine. This undertaking should; be carried out by the

members by their own action and through the action of appropriate specialized organizations and any measures necessary for the maintenance of peace in'accordance with the purposes and principles of the organization. In ceneral, the Council should determine the existence of any threat to peace, breach of peace or act of aggression and make recommendations or decide measures to be taken to maintain or restore peace and security.

The- Council should be empowered to determine what diplomatic, economic or other measures not. involving armed forces should be employed to give effect to its decisions and call upon members to apply such measures. Such measures may include complete or partial interruption of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, or other means of communications and severance of diplomatic and economic relations.

There should be established a Military Staff Committee, the functions of which should be to advise and assist the Council on all questions relating to military requirements for the maintenance of peace, to the employment and command of the forces placed at its disposal, to the regulation of armaments and to possible disarmament. It should be responsible under the Council for the strategic direction of any armed forces placed at the disposal of the Council, Chiefs of Staff.

This committee should be composed of the chiefs of staff of the permanent members of the Council or their representatives. Auy member not permanently represented on the committee should be invited by the committee to be associated with it when efficient discharge of the committee’s responsibilities requires that such a State should participate in its work. The question of command of the forces should be worked oqt subsequently. Members should join in affording mutual assistance in carrying out the measures decided by the CounCN. Nothing in the charter should affect the existence of regional arrangements or agencies for dealing with such matters relating to the maintenance of peace as are appropriate for regional action provided that such arrangements or agencies and their activities are consistent with the purposes and principles of the organization. The Council should encourage settlement of local disputes through such regional arrangements on the initiative of the States concerned or by reference from the Council. The Council should, where appropriate, utilize such arrangements or agencies for enforcement action under its authority, but no enforcement action should be taken under regional arrangements or by regional agencies without authorization by the Council. The Security Council should at all times be kept fully informed of the activities undertaken or in contemplation under regional arrangements or by regional agencies for the maintenance of peace and security.

Economic And Social . Council

Chapter Nine concerns the arrangements for international economic and social co-operation. With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-ljeing which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among the nations the organization should facilitate solutions of Internationa], economic, social and other humanitarian problems and promote respect for human rights and the fundamental freedoms, The responsibility for the discharge of this function should be vested in the Assembly aud, under the authority of the Assembly, in an Economic and Social Council. Various specialized economic, social and other organizations and agencies would have responsibilities in their respective fields as defined in their statutes. The Economic and Social Council shoyld consist of 18 members of the organization elected by the Assembly for three years. Each such State should have one representative with one vote. Decisions of this council should be taken by simple majority vote of those present and voting. The Economic and Social Council should be empowered to carry out recommendations by the Assembly, to make recommendations on international, economic, social and other humanitarian matters, to receive and consider reports from economic, social and other organizations or agencies brought into relationship with the organization, to examine the administrative budgets of such organizations or agencies with a view to making recommendations to the organization concerned, to enable the Secretary-General to provide information to the Social Council, to assist the security Council upon its requests and to perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Assembly. Commissions of Experts, The Economic Social Council should set up an economic commission, a social commission and other commissions as required. These should consist of experts. There should be a permanent staff which should constitute part of the Secretariat. The Economic aud Social Council should make suitable arrangements for representatives of specialized organizations or agencies to participate without a vote- in its deliberations and those of the commissions. It should, adopt its own rules of procedure aud method of selecting its president; Chapter Ten provides that, there should be i) Secretariat comprising a Secre-tary-General and staff as required. He should be the chief administrative officer of the organization. He should be elected by the Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council for such term and under speh conditions as are specified in the charter. The Secre-tary-General should act in that capacity in all meetings of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, and make an annual report to the Assembly on the work of the organization. He should have the right to bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten international peace and security. Chapter Eleven states that amendments should come into force for all members of the organization when adopted by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the Assembly and ratified by the members having permanent membership on the Security Council and by a majority of the other members. Four-Power Procedure. Chapter Twelve provides that pending the coming into force of the special agreement or agreements referred to in Chapter Eight, section B, and in accordance with the Four-Nation Declaration signed at Moscow on October 30, 1043, the States that are parties to that declaration should consult with one another and, as occasion arises, with other members of the organization with a view to such joint action on behalf of the organization as may be necessary for maintaining international pence and security. No provision of the charter should preclude action being taken or authorized in relation to enemy States ns a result of the present war by the Governments having responsibility for such action. In addition to the voting procedure in the Security Council, several other questions are still under consideration.

ASSURANCE AGAINST WAR LORDS

Mr. Roosevelt’s Opinion (Received October 10, 7 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 9. “The Dumbarton Oaks proposals have been made public to permit of full discussion by the people of this country prior to the convening of a wider conierence, said President Roosevelt, in a statement. “Aggressors like Hitler and the Japanese war lords organize for years for tiie day when they can launch their evil strength against weaker nations devoted to peaceful pursuits. This time we are determined to defeat the enemy and assure that lie will not again be in a position to plunge the world into war, and then to so organize I lie peace-loving nations Unit they will be in a position to assure Unit, no other would-be aggressor or conqueror shall even get started. “The projected scheme represents a major objective for which the war is being fought; it may be regarded as the keystone of the arcij, V. will include within its framework a number of spe-

cialized economic and social agencies now existing or to be established. “The task of planning the great design of security and peace has been well begun,' It now remains for the nations to complete the structure in a spirit of constructive purpose and mutual confidence.” , ~ n . . Mr. Roosevelt said that his first impression of the United Nations security proposals had been one or keen satisfaction and even surprise that so could have been accomplished, on so dimcult a.subject in so short a time. He said that the Allies must concentrate on two things: first, the defeat ot the enemy, and. second, that no other would-be aggressor or conqueror should ever get started. He said that such an organization represented a major objective for which the war was being fought.

A BASIC QUESTION

United States Senate’s Prerogative (Received October 10, 11.15 pm.) NEW YORK, October 10. Among the problems remaining lor settlement is the basic question of the United States Senate’s endorsement ot the use of American armed forces in averting a threat to peace, says the “New York Times” Washington corresThe proposed charter provides that the United Nations’ organization must be prepared for rapid action without the necessity of referring each separate action to the home Governments. However, the Senate has always been jealous of its prerogatives, including the right to declare war. Thus the problem is to obtain the Senate’s consent to the adoption of a formula permitting the American delegate to ensure the readiness of American armed forces and provide machinery for putting them into rapid action when their services are demanded. , . . - There will probably be a protracted discussion and negotiation before such agreement cun be obtained.

COMMENT IN LONDON

Vagueness And Realism (Received October 10, 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 10. “There is some fuzzy idealism and much vagueness in this plan for the future,” says the “Daily Express, commenting on the Dumbarton Oaks proposals, “but there is one big workable fact—-it recognizes that peace depends on power. The tremendous power built Up to \viu the war will not be dissipated this dime; it will be left in the bands that generated it. The ‘big four will be the guardians of the world’s peace; this to all intents and purposes means the ‘big three,’ for China’s strength has been worn and bled by her years of struggle.” “The Times says that the most conspicuous divergence from the covenant of the League of Nations which the draft charter reveals is a resolute attempt to isolate security from the other aspects of international co-operation and. provide more realistic machinery for dealing with it. In the Security Council will be found the key to the success or failure of the new plan. The proposed organization, the paper says, provides a potential framework for what Mr. Churchill recently called an armed grand alliance under the aegis of a League. The reality will depend on the determination of the partners of the alliance to make it continuously effective for peace. Whether or not time is found to discuss the project, the conversations in Moscow should mark a further and decisive step in affirming that vital determination

APPEAL TO PARTIES

(Received October 10, 11.20 p.m.) OTTAWA, October 10.. The Prime Minister, Mr. MacKenzie King, said that the Canadian Government welcomed the very large measure of agreement, that had been reached at Dumbarton Oaks. He hoped the issues raised would not become a matter of party controversy, since they far transcended party lines. Before Canada entered any final commitment regarding participation in an international organization, there would be full opportunity for discussion in Parliament.

LATER TALKS

LONDON, October 9. The proposals, which have been put forward by high officials of tho Governments, will now be studied by the various Governments. A New York correspondent says it is likely that there will be a meeting between Mr. Churchill, Premier Stalin and President Roosevelt, and that then there will be a full conference by all the United Nations before the new league can originally come into being.