Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, The United Nations; The Western Hemisphere, Volume II

IO Files: US/A/C.1/2102

United States Delegation Working Paper

[New York,] October 10, 1950.

Proposed Amendments to Seven-Power Joint Draft Resolution “Uniting for Peace”¹

1. Change the first line of the first paragraph of the Preamble to read: “Recognizing that the essential purposes of the United Nations are the following”. (Lebanon)

2. Add after the first paragraph of the Preamble a new paragraph:

“To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace”. (Lebanon)

3. Amend and complete the third paragraph of the Preamble as follows: “Recalling its resolution 290 (IV) entitled ‘Essentials of Peace’, according to which the disregard of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations is primarily responsible for the continuance of international tension, and considering that adherence to these principles involves an obligation on Member States to give effect to the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly directed toward the maintenance of international peace and security and the realization of the purposes of the United Nations.” (Lebanon)

4. It has been suggested by Yugoslavia that the words “threat to the peace” in the fourth line of paragraph A.1. be deleted on the ground that this phrase might be interpreted as laying the ground for a preventative war.

5. Insert at the end of the first sentence of paragraph A.1. the phrase: “taking account of provisions relating to regional arrangements (Articles 52 and 53 of the Charter).” (Lebanon)

6. In the second line of paragraph 8, insert the words “and equipped” after the word “organized” so that it would read: “elements so trained, organized and equipped”… (Egypt)

7. Insert in the third line after the word “available” the following: “, in accordance with their respective constitutional processes,” (Peru)

8. Insert after paragraph 8 the following unnumbered paragraph:
“Invites the Members of the United Nations to inform the Secretary-General as soon as possible of the measures taken in implementation of the preceding paragraph”. (Greece)
Venezuela supports the Greek amendment but would prefer that such reports would be submitted to the Collective Measures Committee rather than to the Secretary-General.

9. The Egyptian proposal for line 3 is to insert after “Secretary-General” the words “and each state directly concerned”.
A preferable form of this amendment, probably acceptable to the Egyptian Delegation, might read: “and with Member States as the Committee finds appropriate”.

10. The Lebanese revision of paragraph 10, the significant effect of which is to add the words at the top of page 4 “deemed necessary to give affect to the resolutions adopted by the Security Council and the General Assembly”.

11. A further Egyptian amendment would add to paragraph 10 a new paragraph reading as follows: “With a view to raising the general standard of preparedness against any possible aggression, the Committee shall, in discharging its duties, give priority to the equipment of the national forces of Member States which are comparatively under-equipped”.
A preferable form of this amendment which might be satisfactory to the Egyptian Delegation would add a new sentence to paragraph 10 reading: “The Committee should include in its study and report on the machinery necessary for coordination among Member States to the end that there may be forces in such a degree of readiness and general location that acts of aggression in any area may be met, to the extent practicable, with resources near at hand.”

12. Peru has suggested that there be inserted somewhere in the resolution the following: “Nothing in this resolution shall affect the obligation to give preference to the peaceful means of solution established by existing treaties and by regional arrangements.”

13. Egypt has suggested that paragraph 5 be transferred to the end of Part D and reworded as follows: “Recommends to all governments and authorities that they cooperate with the Peace Observation Commission and with the Collective Measures Committee and assist them in the performance of their functions.”

14. Chile strongly urges an amendment to take care of two points of the Chilean resolution not covered in ours; namely, human rights and economic cooperation. After talking with Santa Cruz it is believed that he might agree to the following to be added as Part E of the resolution:

“12. Recognizes, in adopting the proposals set forth above, that enduring peace will not be secured solely by collective security arrangements to deal with breaches of international peace and acts of aggression, but that a genuine and lasting peace depends upon respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all and on the establishment and maintenance of conditions of economic and social well-being in all countries;

“13. Urges Member States to respect fully and to intensify joint action, in cooperation with the United Nations, to develop and stimulate universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to cooperate in collective efforts to achieve conditions of economic and social progress and development throughout the world.”

1. These emerged in the general discussion phase of the “Uniting for Peace” resolution in the First Committee, October 7, and some were incorporated into the revised Seven-Power draft resolution submitted by the sponsors themselves on October 13.