Page image

7

that the United Nations is entitled to the full credit for this very happy development, but it is perfectly clear that without the United Nations the situation must have been very much worse and that the present agreement could perhaps scarcely have been reached without United Nations intervention, encouragement, and assistance. This is the kind of field in which the United Nations as it is to-day can expect to exercise its authority and influence with the best prospect of success. Of a similar character was the apparent success of the United Nations efforts in Greece, where it seems at least probable that the main difficulties have been overcome and that a final and peaceful solution may in due course be achieved. On the economic side the outstanding achievement was the decision on technical assistance to undeveloped countries, a resolution which was unanimously approved in partial implementation, inter alia, of the well-known " fourth point " advanced by President Truman. If a full measure of practical effect is given to this resolution it might prove an inspiring step forward in the great work of eliminating economic inequalities and injustices among the peoples of the world. I have been, as always, very much indebted to my colleagues on the New Zealand delegation. Despite bad health, Mr Thorn, as in the past, assumed responsibility for economic and social matters, and for the representation of New Zealand on Committees 2 and 3 —which dealt with those matters —and on Committee 5, which is concerned with finance and administration. Mr Shanahan shared with me the responsibility for political subjects, which were divided among four main Committees, on which we alternated as occasion required. We had on this occasion the pleasure of welcoming a representative of the Maori race, in the person of Mr Reedy, who quickly won affection and respect. Mr Reedy on arrival expressed a preference for the economic subjects and consequently undertook work on Committees 2 and 3, but he very wisely took the opportunity of closely following the deliberations of the political Committees and was thus enabled to obtain a very broad view of the activities of the Assembly. Mr Laking, who necessarily took charge of the Washington Embassy during my absence, joined the delegation from time to time when it was found necessary to call upon him. Dr Sutch and Mr Weir worked hard and well with Mr Thorn on the economic side, and Mr Corner worked admirably with me and with Mr Shanahan on the political side, as did Mr Craw, who gave special attention to the Trusteeship Committee. Mr Webster not only took the New. Zealand seat on Committee 5, but successfully assumed the duties of Secretary to the delegation, while the secretarial work of the delegation was in the extremely competent hands of Miss Clark, Miss Barraclough, and Miss Moohan. I would like to record my warm appreciation and gratitude for the work performed by each and every member of the delegation.

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert