COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ALEXANDER WILEY, Wisconsin, Chairman H. ALEXANDER SMITH, New Jersey WALTER F. GEORGE, Georgia FRANCIS O. WILCOX, Chief of Staff JULIUS N. CAHN, Counsel PAT M. HOLT, Consultant ALWYN V. FREEMAN, Consultant C. C. O'DAY, Chief Clerk SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER CREATED PURSUANT TO SENATE RESOLUTIONS 126 AND 193, 83D CONGRESS HOMER FERGUSON, Michigan SPESSARD L. HOLLAND,1 Florida MIKE MANSFIELD, Montana FRANCIS O. WILCOX, Chief of Staff FRANCIS R. VALEO, Staff Associate (on loan from the Legislative Reference Service, Library of Congress) MORELLA HANSEN, Research Assistant 1 Appointed by the Vice President to serve with the subcommittee. REVIEW OF THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 1958 UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:15 a. m., in room 457, Senate Office Building, Senator Alexander Wiley (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Wiley, Knowland, Cooper, Holland, Sparkman, Gillette, and Mansfield. Also present: Senators Green and Fulbright. The CHAIRMAN. The subcommittee will come to order. We are holding today the first of a series of public hearings of the Subcommittee on the United Nations Charter, created pursuant to Senate Resolution 126. The membership of the subcommittee consists of Senators Ferguson, Knowland, Cooper, Holland, Sparkman, Gillette, and Mansfield, and myself as chairman. Senate Resolution 126 introduced by Senator Gillette defines our purposes. It requires us to make: A full and complete study of proposals to amend, revise, or otherwise modify or change existing international peace and security organizations, for the purpose of guiding the Senate in the fulfillment of its responsibility *** to advise the President with respect to the foreign policy of the United States. (S. Res. 126 is as follows:1) [S. Res. 126, 83d Cong., 1st sess.] Whereas revision of the present Charter of the United Nations is necessary if the purpose for which the United Nations was established, to maintain international peace and security is to be achieved; and Whereas article 109 of the Charter provides that a general conference to review the Charter "may be held at a date and place to be fixed by a two-thirds vote of any seven members of the Security Council", and further that "if such a conference has not been held before the tenth annual session of the General Assembly, the proposal to call one shall be placed on the agenda of that sesssion of the General Assembly, and the conference shall be held if so decided by a majority vote of the members of the General Assembly and by a vote of any seven members of the Security Council"; and Whereas the Department of State has anticipated that a proposal to call a Charter Review Conference will be considered at the tenth regular session of the General Assembly, that is, during 1955; and Whereas the Department of State has stated that the development of an official United States position toward the question of Charter review, and toward the many individual issues involved, will require careful and detailed preparation 1 On January 26, 1954, S. Res. 193 extending the study to February 1, 1955, passed the Senate. within the Government, including official studies, advice from Members of Congress, and private discussions with other governments, as well as full opportunity for the public to inform itself regarding the problems involved, and to express its views; and Whereas the establishment and development of regional security arrangements and agencies in accordance with article 53 of the Charter have raised questions as to the relationship of such regional security organizations with the United Nations: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations, or a subcommittee thereof, to consist of six members chosen equally from both parties by the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee who shall be one of the said members and shall serve as chairman of such subcommittee, in conjunction with two other Senators, not members of the Committee on Foreign Relations and not of the same political party, designated by the President of the Senate, is hereby empowered and directed to make a full and complete study of proposals to amend, revise, or otherwise modify or change existing international peace and security organizations, for the purpose of guiding the Senate in the fulfillment of its responsibility, under the second paragraph of section 2 of article II of the Constitution, to advise the President with respect to the foreign policy of the United States, and particularly with reference to the policy of the United States at the General Conference of the United Nations for review of the Charter to be held in accordance with article 109 of chapter XVIII of the Charter. SEC. 2. The Committee on Foreign Relations shall transmit to the Senate prior to January 31, 1954, the results of the study and investigation of the subcommittee, together with such recommendations as may be found desirable. SEC. 3. For the purpose of this resolution, the committee is authorized to employ on a temporary basis until February 1, 1954, such technical, clerical, or other assistants, experts, and consultants as it deems desirable. The necessary expenses of the committee under this resolution, which shall not exceed $35,000, shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate upon vouchers approved by the chairman of the committee. WORLD SITUATION The CHAIRMAN. I may say the responsibility with which this subcommittee is charged is a heavy one. The world rocks along from day to day balanced on a razor's edge, with the destruction and chaos of war lying on the one side and the security, the dignity, and the decency of peace on the other. How are we going to get out of this predicament? How are we going to tip the balance on the side of peace? I dare say that is a question that is uppermost in the minds of all of us, especially those of us who have been entrusted by the peoples of the United States with the responsibilities of government. At the end of World War II, we hoped we had found one of the answers to the question when we established the United Nations. So strong were we in supporting that organization that 89 of 91 Senators present and voting, endorsed the Charter and our participation in the United Nations. Eight years have passed. They have been revealing years. They have shown us that we have not yet freed ourselves from the danger of aggression and the fears that it engenders. They have shown us something of the possibilities of the United Nations in keeping the peace and promoting fellowship among the peoples of the world. And the passing years have shown us, too, some of its shortcoming and weaknesses. REVIEW CONFERENCE In beginning our work we are to keep in mind the nature of the United Nations. It is not, as some have charged, a superstate. It is not an organization that can compel us to bow to its will. Senator |