Evening star., 1945-07-09
Veto Power Is Key to Success
Of Charter, Stettinius Declares
As Hearings Open in Senate
Appeals for Approval
Before Crowd Thut
Jams Caucus Room
(Tert OF Mr.. Stettinius' Statement
on Page A-12.)
By ]. A. O'LEARY.

BY j. A. OLEAh1.
The requirement that the Big
Five agree and vote together in
the World Security Council is
essential to the success of the
United Nations Charter, Edward
R. StettiniuS, jr., told the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee to-
day, adding that the right OF
veto confirms a power which the
majority of Americans believe
this Nation should have in view
of it's grave responsibilities.
The former Secretary of State
testified before crowd that jammed
every corner of the Senate caucus
room in making the first appeal for
ratification of the document on
which the world must rely to pre-
vent another war.
Economic Council Role Stressed.
The man President Truman has
picked to be the American delegate
to the Security Council laid unex-
pected stress on the little talked-of
Economic and Social Council-one
agency of the charter-when he de-
clared:
NO provisions that can be writ
ten into the Charter will enable the
Security Council to make the world
secure from war if men and women
have no security in their homes and
In their jobs"
"In the next 10 or Is years." he
continued, "the work of the Eco
nomic and Social Council and its re-
lated agencies in helping to restore
a shattered world and to achieve
better living conditions for all peo-
Piles will be of paramount impor-
tance.
'If the United Nations cooperate
effectively toward these ends they
will have gone far toward eliminat-
ing in advance the cause of another
World War a generation hence. If
they fail, there will be instead wide
spread depresslons and economic
warfare, which would fatally under
mine the world organization.
Crowd Gathers Early.
A crowd eager to see the curtain
go up on this historic action gath
cred early in the corridors of the
Senate Office Building. Police
opened the caucus room doors at
10 am. and the early arrivals
quickly filled the unreserved space
in the marble-lined hall.
Press and radio work tables jutted
from the committee rostrum across
the front of the room. Another
section of chairs was roped of for
members of the diplomatic corps.
Chairman Bloom of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, attended
the opening session.
Veto Formula Explained.
Mr.. Stettinius, who presided over
the San Francisco Conference and
headed the American delegation,
frankly met criticism he said has
been directed at the veto power.
"The question is asked, What
would happen if one of the five per-
manent members used the unanim-
ity, rule to veto enforcement action
against itself?" he said. "The an
swer is plain. If one of these ma
tions over embarked upon course
of aggression, major war would
result, no matter what the member
ship and voting provisions of the
Security Council might be.
"The Charter does not confer any
power on the great nations which
they do not already possess. With
out the Charter, the power of these
nations to make or break the peace
would still exist. What the Charter
does is to place special and binding
obligations upon the great nations
to use-in unity together for peace
not separately for war-the power
that is already in their hands"
Mr.. Stettinius told the commit
tee the Security Council must report
at least once year to the General
Assembly of all the United Nations
on the steps it has taken to main
tain peace, which means, he said
that members of the council "can
quickly be held accountable before
world opinion if they are derelict in
their dtuy."
Use of Power Unlikely.
He predicted that the veto power
sis not likely to be abused, or even
to be exercised at all except in un-
usual circumstances" because of the
compelling desire and need of the
five great nations to work together
for peace"
Continuing, he declared:
Twice in 80 years they have
been Allies against aggression
Their common interest in prevent
ing another war is fully as urgent
as that of any other nation. Under
this Charter they assume sacred
obligations and heavy responsible
ties for the maintenance of peace
with justice. They do not assume
these obligations and responsible
tiles lightly. They do so because il
is in the vital national interest oi
each one of them to see that these
obligations and responsibilities are
fulfilled.
IT believe that I speak for the
entire United States delegation
when I say that the requirement
for unanimity among the five per-
manent members, with the safe
guards that have been provided, is
not only essential to the success OF
the United Nations organization
in the years Immediately ahead, but
that it recognizes and confirms q
power which majority of Amer
leans believe the United States
should have in view of the great
responsibilities our country must