6

A.—2

When the Commissions, in their turn, brought forward their reports to the Plenary Session of the Conference, no discussions ensued. On one report only was a statement made by a delegation before the Plenary Session. I should like to refer in passing to the fullness of discussion which generally marked the whole of the Conference proceedings. Though the time spent in San Francisco was long, every encouragement was given by Mr. Stettinius, on behalf of the sponsoring Powers, to have matters thrashed out fully and thoroughly, with the result that every delegation was able to come away from the Conference feeling that an opportunity had been given to express its country's viewpoint and to have it considered. The reports of the four Commissions were all adopted at the Plenary Session on the evening of Monday, 25 June, following which the Conference unanimously adopted the Charter of the United Nations, including the Statute of the International Court of Justice, the Chairmen of the fifty delegations represented rising in their seats to signify their assent. On 26 June the Charter was signed by the delegations represented al the Conference. The President of the United States, the Honourable Harry S. Truman, honoured with his presence the closing session of the Conference, which was held on the afternoon of Tuesday, 26 June, and delivered an address, with which the proceedings of the Conference were brought to a close. The President's message was in every way worthy of the great occasion on which it was pronounced. His simple statement of great principle was in terms which all peoples could appreciate and understand. No one who heard him will forget his appeal to all nations to honour their pledge to build upon the Charter a new epoch of peace and security. Mr. Truman, like every delegate who spoke during the Conference, paid tribute to the memory of the world leader who, more than any other man, was founder and architect of the United Nations organization—Franklin D. Roosevelt. The conclusion of the Conference was followed on 27 June by the first meeting of the Preparatory Commission, which was set up to make such preliminary arrangements as might be necessary pending the coming into force of the Charter. Before reviewing the work and achievements of the Conference and the main points raised by the New Zealand delegation it would be convenient at the outset to give some brief account of the leading features of the Charter which was finally adopted. Very broadly, the plan is as follows:' —■ At the centre of the security system is the Security Council (Chapter V), composed of five permanent members —China, France, U.S.S.R., United Kingdom, and United States of America —and six other States elected for two years by the General Assembly. The Council is " primarily responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security," and the members of the United Nations agree to accept and carry out its decisions in accordance with the Charter. The obligation of members to apply at the call of the Security Council measures not involving the use of armed force is unqualified; the obligation to apply measures involving the use of armed force is subject to certain conditions. There are two limitations on the exercise of these extensive powers; (1) the moral limitations that is offered by the " purposes and principles " set forth in Chapter I, to which the action of the Security Council must conform; and (2) the political limitation arising from the circumstance that the agreement of all the permanent members is required for any important decision of the Security Council to take effect. The Security Council is assisted by a Military Staff Committee composed of representatives of the permanent members of the Security Council (Chapter VII).