NEW HISTORY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21924, 19 January 1946, Page 5

NEW HISTORY

SECURITY-COUNCIL FIRST MEETING SOLID BASIS URGED HANDLE PROBLEMS LATER (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, Jan. 17. In the comparatively small oak-panelled main conference hall at Church House, Deans Yard, almost under the shadow of Westminster Abbey, a new phase in world history began this afternoon, when the Security Council of UNO met for the first time. Seated in a wide semi-circle under the glare of strong lights and with any suspicion of daylight excluded by heavy green curtains, 11 men, representing 11 nations, emphasised to one another and the world at large the importance of what they described as “indeed an historic occasion.”

Potentially, they are the most powerful men in the world to-day, for on the Security Council, which will sit continuously, will rest the responsibility of maintaining world peace. Names of Members Sitting from left to right they were: M. Modzelewaki (Poland), M. Gromyko (Russia), Mr. Ernest Bevin (England), Mr. Edward Stettinius (America), Mr. Norman Makin (Australia), Senor Freitus-Valle (Brazil), Dr. Wellington Koo (China), Hamid Badawi (Egypt), M. Auriol (France), Senor Rosenzweig Diaz (Mexico), and M. van Leffens (Netherlands). The business of, this first meeting, which is purely formal, was listened to by the members of other delegation to UNO huddled together on long seats backed against each side of the hall or occupying some of the wooden chairs in the main body of the hah, which incidentally was used for a short time by the House of Commons during the peak of the flying bomb I was a red letter day for the Australian delegation, as in accordance with the rules which were laid down, each member shall be chairman for a month in the alphabetical order of the names of their countries. Mr. Makin was automatically elected the first chairman. Mr. P. Fraser Absent Mr. Fraser, who had taken such an important part in the election of Australia to the Council, was unable tto be present, being engaged at work in his office in the War Cabinet Building. Despite an atmosphere almost approaching informality for some members smoked, as did their audience, so that there was a misty blue haze in the room—the significance of the occasion was plainly felt as each delegate endorsed the heavy responsibility of the council. The shortest speech was made by M. Gromyko (Russia), who was a model of brevity but left no doubt of the Russian viewpoint, ending: “1 wish, in the name of the Soviet delegation, to express the hope that the Security Council will fulfil t'ne great and historic task given to it by the Charter of the United Nations.” Six items on the agenda were duly ticked off, and then the council adjourned. The seventh item was consideration : of the appointment of the secretarygeneral. Producing Right Atmosphere With this first meeting of the council, the first session of the General Assembly of UNO may also be said .to have begun a new phase for though 'the debate on the Preparatory Commission’s report will continue until Saturday, the majority of the formal business of the opening of the session has been completed. The speeches this week in the Assembly have been mainly for the purpose of giving each nation an opportunity of expressing its faith and support in UNO and, in effect, promoting an atmosphere of self-confi-dence in UNO as well as the confidence of the world. Mr. Bevin's speech this morning received the most applause of any yet made in which M. Gromyko joined vigorously and placed Britain fully alongside America and Mr. Byrnes’ recent pledge. Considerable interest is being shown in the speech to be made by M. Vishinsky when he arrives, though when that will be is still uncertain. ‘‘Probably not to-day, probably not tomorrow, but in the very near future" Was the forecast of one Russian. Of the other members of the Big Five, Dr Wellington Koo has already spoken equally emphatically in support of UNO while M. Bidault is expected back from Paris to speak on Saturday. The arrival of M. Vishinsky is awaited With interest, more parjicu-

larly in view of Persia's request that the position in her country should be considered by the Security Council. Though the request has not been referred to again publicly by the delegates, it is the most discussed of all subjects at the conference. The feeling seems to be growing that, perhaps, it may not be dealt with by the council and that negotiations may be confined to the Big Three or to the Persian and Russian Governments. There is a clear desire that UNO should not be unduly taxed .at this early moment in its career, though in plainer language it can be said that UNO thus begins that career under the shadow of veto, which nobody doubts Russia would apply in the Security Council if the discussions in it on the Persian quesiioii w:<yg npJJaJje£j&»&' ■