MILITARY FORCE

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

MILITARY FORCE

UNO PRECAUTION

STAFFS’ COMMITTEE WELCOMED BY BEVIN LONDON, Jan. 18. In his speech to the General Assembly the British Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest . Bevin, said:— “To join the security organisation is not sufficient in itself. Each member must fake full responsibility fox’ supplying lhc necessary forces, funds and supplies to carry out swiftly its decisions against any aggression.

“It is for that reason that llis Majesty's Government welcomes the formation of the military staffs committee under the Security Council so that the experience gained tw the Allied Chiefs of Staff in the war can now be nlnced at the disposal of the United Nations’ Organisation.

“The new objectives that they will be given, which will not be to fight a narrow nationalist war but to defend the peace of the world, will be a great asset to the United Nations Organisation. "Equally, we welcome the suggestion of the Atomic Commission to work o.ut a scheme for controlling scientific discoveries. The social disorder arising from war and the failure to satisfy the physical and intellectual development of mankind may lead to still further troubles and serious conflicts. “The task devolving on the Economic and Social Council is urgent, with a bearing on world security .lust as important as other instruments. The British Government would place at the disposal of the Economic and Social Council all its experience and, in return, would hope to gain knowledge from others which would be of assistance in solving its economic ancl social problems. The Economic and Social Council would have to carry on a great war n'gainst poverty and disease which had cursed humanity for so long. Great Work of UNRKA

Britain had circulated a resolution for action by the Assembly on UNRRA. This was done because Britain believed that it would not be possible for the United Nations to achieve peaceful progress unless this great ambulance work was carried on long enough to enable economic rehabilitation to be effective.

There was one problem that was not confined to the countries needing UNRRA help. It was common to nearly the whole world —food. A common effort by all persons was necessary to deal with this problem pending the return of good harvests. The food shortage would create _ for them problems, moral and physical, which it would take years to overcome. He urged the Assembly to appreciate the seriousness of this situation ancl give an example of international effort by making common sacrifices to surmount the transitory difficulty.

“The British Government is anxious for .the continued use ancl strengthening of the International Labour Office which was a product of the peace treaty at the end of the last war,” he said. “It has survived this war and performed a great task. The International Labour Office, by its methods and power of making conventions applicable universally, can become an even more potent instrument than it has been already in creating new levels of human existence over the whole world.”

Britain’s Willingness

“Another instrument which we welcome is the Trusteeship Council,” he continued. “We made our contribution to its creation at San Francisco and the Preparatory Commission. I take this opportunity of informing the Assembly of our intention to enter forthwith into negotiations for placing Tanganyika, Cameroons and Togoland under the trusteeship system. I make it clear our willingness to place these territories under the trusteeship system naturally depends on our _ being able to negotiate terms which, in our view, are generally satisfactory which achieve the objects of the Charter and in the best interests of the inhabitants of the territories themselves. These territories have been administered by us for over 25 years. We have fulfilled our obligations under ihe Covenant of the League of Nations to the best ot our ability and administered them in the interests of their inhabitants. We intend to continue this policy under the trusteeship system. We are ready to accept the obligations which will rest on us as the administering authority under this new system. If that is to be achieved, it is most important that the people of the territories themselves and the world at large should be left in no doubt that a continuity of administration will be maintained until the ultimate objective of the trusteeship system self-govern-ment or independence, as the case may be—is attained.

International Court of Justice

“The British Government also attaches the highest importance to the International Court of Justice as an essential organ of the United Nations. It is their firm hope that, in the election of judges for the court, which will shortly take place, all the delegations will realise the necessity for electing those who, by their qualifications and character will command the confidence of the whole world. “Further, we consider the greatest emphasis should be laid on the principles contained in Article 3G of the Charter that legal disputes' should, as a general rule, be decided by the International Court.” Mr. Bevin said he was not one of those who said the League of Nations had entirely failed. The experience gained had been of much value, but just ns each nation had now to bring a new spirit to the work of reconstruction at home, so fresh vision and approach would be required in the international structure which mankind was creating. The minds of men had undergone a great • adjustment since the last war. All must realise that the United Nations was not something remote and impersonal to which problepis could be handed over with the expectation that they would be solved without further effort on their part. “Our Best Contribution

“I can give the utmost assurance that not only His Majesty’s Government but the people of Britain .give wholehearted support to the United Nations, he said. “We will try to make the best contribution we can and use to the full every instrument which is created under its auspices. We will strive, with other Governments, to prevent aggression and another war for, be it remembered, that in the last 30 years this country and the Commonwealth has been in the forefront of the great struggle right from the beginning to the end and has never faltered. In this, the flower of its manhood has been sacrificed, together with the accumulation of wealth. "In the past 30 years, the peoples of the British Commonwealth have actually engaged in battle one day in every three and for what purpose? For gains for themselves? No, for aggrandisement? No. But. only to defeat those who would destroy liberty and harness the souls of man to the pernicious system.

“With the same courage and devotion with which we fought those, battles, we now dedicate all our capacity, courage and achievement io building up a world order of peace.” The Central Hali was packed when Mr. Bevin rose to sneak. He was loudly cheered at intervals by the gathering which, so far, has been ultraconservative with its applause.