UN General Assembly
1947

Now, however, if one of the great Powers decided not to carry out in good faith its obligations under the Charter, it could paralyse the action of the Council that was set up at San Francisco as a panacea for maintaining peace. Furthermore, it could, by dilatory manoeuvres, by the use and abuse of the “legal” veto, distract the attention of the other great Powers, complete its military preparations and launch the conflict when it was most convenient to its own interests. Was it for this that forty-five nations met at San Francisco and voluntarily tied their hands by a treaty from which — so it is said — they cannot free themselves without dissolving the Organisation? The great Powers were in a better position before signing the Charter, since they were not bound by a covenant compelling them to act in good faith.