“SOLVE PROBLEM OR PERISH”— Berendsen’s Appeal For Abolition Of Veto

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1949, Page 2

“SOLVE PROBLEM OR PERISH”— Berendsen’s Appeal For Abolition Of Veto

FLUSHING, September 22 (Rec. 1 p.m.).—Sir Carl Berendsen (New Zealand) appealed in the United Nations General Assembly today to the big Powers to find a means to throw off the "shackles of the veto,” which, he said, had crippled the United Nations as a means of enforcing, peace. Although there had. been much in the way of achievement which had been gratifying, the United Nations had not been successful in its primary purpose—that of establishing a system of collective security, “Blot On Charter”

Until the Great Powers relinquished. the veto right, which Sir Carl called “this blot on the Charter,” there could never be an effective system of collective security. “While each of the five Great Powers insists on retaining to itself the right not only to say whether it itself will take getion, but also the right to prevent, the organisation itself from taking action, even if that one Great Power is in a minority of one.” said Sir Carl; “while this blot on the charter remains, we can never have an effective system of collective security. I do not presume to say to the five Great Powers that they should relinquish that privilege. That is their business, but, unless and until they do relinquish that privilege, there can never be an effective system of collective security. “The long and short of it is this —and sensible men and women throughout the world should always remember it—that while we have in this organisation something that is very precious indeed, something that is worthy of all support, we do not have the one thing, the means of defeating aggression which , in the long run man must achieve or perish. ■ “Have We The Time? “I am one of those who believe that, if the world h'as the good for-

tune to enjoy a long enough period of peace, the United Nations will prove itself able to preserve peace, that if we have sufficient time we will/find means to free ourselves of the shackles of the veto and to establish an effective organisation of all peace and liberty-loving nations, determined to protect themselves, all for one, one for all, against any aggression. “But do we have time? I do not know, and you do not know. The problem is not only fundamental and vital. It is on our very doorsteps. It is in our every home: Man must' solve this problem, and solve it in time, or perish.”