U.N.O. WINDS UP

Grey River Argus, 16 February 1946, Page 5

U.N.O. WINDS UP

SPEECHES OF HOPE In Open Discussion (Rec. 5.5), LONDON, February 15. The United Nations Assembly' yesterday passed swiftly through the remaining items on its agenda, including the report of the Permanent Headquarters Committee. Large crowds witnessed the closing scene. The public and distinguished visitors’ galleries were crowded, while delegates filled the main hall. Applause lasted nearly a minute when the President called on Mr C. Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, to go to the rostrum.

Mr Attlee said: “We have reached the end of this long, momentous, first meeting of the United Nations, and the delegates are now dispersing until they meet again in September. Great progress has been made, and perhaps it is well that there should now be an interval of some duration, before we meet again. The United Nations has nov' been placed on a firm basis. Results already achieved show that the Preparatory Commission’s work was well done. World affairs have been discussed publicly. This, to my mind, is the United Nations’ most important function. People have been enlightened. There has been freedom of comment, and therefore the force of public opinion has been brought to bear on the delegates. Many great problems have been dealt with, and, in many instances, first steps to a solution taken.” Mr Attlee said that every member of the United Nations, great and small, had the opportunity of stating its opinion on important matters in which it was vitally interested. It was not surprising that difficult technical problems of procedure had arisen, but. the rules worked well. The spirit, of association was more important than technicalities.

M. Spaak, the President, said that all of the 51 delegates had been imbued with a genuine desire for cooperation and friendship. Because of those feelings, the Assembly had succeeded, and they could send out to the world a message of confidence and optimism. M. T. Lie (Secretary) said that a “parliament of man” might still be a dream, but in the General Assembly they had established a truly democratic forum for free, open discussion on great international economic problems confronting them. It would be unreasonable to expect that a democratic world assembly would not suffer growing pains. “Our’s, I feel, have not been excessive,” he said.

(Rec. 6.30) MELBOURNE, Feb. 15

Mr. Makin is expected to return to Australia on February 20. His South Australian representative announced he expected Mr. Makin to leave England by 'air on February 17.