THE VOICE OF TURTLE BAY
During its four years of operation, the United
Nations has cohtinually been handicapped by the
lack of co-operation between the Soviet Union
and the Western Powers. In addition to prevent
ing the conclusion of treaties of peace with Ger
many and Japan, this lack of co-operation has pre
vented the Security Council from functioning as
the unit primarily reponsible for the maintenance
of international peace and security as the Charter
had anticipated. In addition it has slowed down
and, in some respects, obstructed the work of
other United Nation units. Because of the flex
ibility of the organization and procedures,how
ever, the United Nations and the specialized agen
cies have been able to achieve important results
in economic and social co-operation, the improve
ment of backward areas and notable successes in
the political field.
Membership of the U. N. was increased during
1949 to 59 by the admission of Israel, and new
applications were received from the Republic of
Korea (South Korea), Nepal and the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).
Favorable action on Nepal and South Korea was
blocked by the veto of the Soviet Union. Nine
other countries had previously been refused mem
bership upon the negative vote of the Soviet
Union.
The unhappy relationship between the Soviet
Union and the Western Powers was particularly
apparent when consideration was being given to
the international control of atomic energy and the
regulation of conventional armament.
The Korean situation remained substantially
unimproved throughout 1949- The U. N. Com
mission on Korea established two sub-committees,
one to contact North Korea and the other to con
sult with the government of South Korea.
Another sub-committee was established to check
on the withdrawal of the remaining United States
ocupation forces. The Commission then asked
the Soviet Union to allow a check on the removal
of Soviet troops from Northern Korea. No
answer was received either from the government
of Northern Korea or from the Soviet Union in
response to the 'request to facilitate unification
berwen north and south as to observe the with
drawal of troops.
The Commissions’ report set forth five conclus
ions: (1) that propaganda and hostile activity
between the two parts of Korea made unification
remote; (2) that opposition of the Soviet Union
to the commission and its objectives made a sub
stantial degree of unification impossible; (3)
that the diferences between the Soviet Union and
the United States remained one of the underlying
factors in preventing unification; (4) that the
Korean government should be allowed a broader
political base; and (5) that the situation in Korea
had not improved and that the commission had
been unable to facilitate reaching the objective
of the general assembly. The general assembly
voted to continue the U. N. Commission of Korea,
rejecting a proposal by the Soviet Union to ter
minate the commission.
The foregoing shows that the Soviet Union has
had little regard for the United Nations and has
continually shown contempt and failure to co
operate with Western Powers. Her failure to
abide by the decisions of the U. N. definately
shows that the Soviet Union anticipated war in
Korea. The failure of the U. N. to cope with
the Soviet Union’s actions is one of the few
weaknesses of the organization, and is the weak
ness which has brought fear and unrest to Euro
pean and Asiatic countries. Yet, despite this
weakness the United Nations is our only hope
for peace.
The most insistant sound in the world today
comes not from the halls of government, not from
the meeting rooms of diplomats, but from the
hearts of people of all the world. This sound
is a swelling voice asking, urging, demanding that
we do not abandon the United Nations—the
Voice of Turtle Bay—but strengthen it and make
it the instrument by which nations may live to
gether in peace and march together toward a
better and safer future.
The attainment of lasting peace is, of course,
the predominent goal of the U. N. This goal
is still far beyond the horizon. Far beyond the
horizon, but not hopeless. No one can be sure
whether or not the U. N. will achieve its goal.
But it is our only hope today, and as such deserves
the fervent support of us all. While it has not
yet succeeded in this field where all else has failed,
it has brought to many other fields great ac
complishments of united actions.
Let not the negative votes of the Soviet Union,
with all their drama and headlines blind us to
the good that the U. N. has brought to the world
and to the desirability of keeping the organizat
ion intact. We citizens of the United States
should be particularly proud of the U. N.—we
showed the way in the principal of unity. We
led the world in bringing together people of dif
ferent interests and different places for the good
of all. We brought to practical realization the
idea, "In unity there is strength”, and we have
fought for it. Let us now lead the way in the
principal, "In unity there is strength—in United
Nations there is hope'-”
We must support the United Nations—to
day’s only hope for peace.