Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-10-24
Text of Truman Address to u. N. Assembly

!. N. Assembly
cooperation OF nations to respect
the legitimate interests Of all states
and act as good neighbors toward
each other.
Lasting agreements between Allies
cannot be imposed by one nation nor
can they be reached at the expense
of the security, independence or
integrity of any nation. There must
be accommodation by all the Allied
nations in which mutual adjust
ments of lesser national interests
are made in order to serve the
tgreater interest of all in peace,
security and justice.
Spirit of Cooperation.
This Assembly can do much to-
ward re creating the spirit of friend
ly cooperation and toward reaffirm-
ing those principles of the United
Nations which must be applied to
the peace settlements. It must also
prepare and strengthen the United
Nations for the tasks that lie ahead
after the settlements have been
made.
All member nations, large and
small, are represented here as equals.
Wisdom is not the monopoly of
strength or size. Small nations can
contribute equally with the large
nations toward bringing constructive
thought and wise Judgment to bear
upon the formation Of collective
policy.
This Assembly is the worlds SUI
preme deliberative body.
The highest obligation Of this As
sembly is to speak for all mankind
in such a way as to promote the
unity of all members in behalf OF
a peace that will be lasting because
it is founded upon justice.
In seeking unity we should not be
concerned about expressing differ
ences freely. The United States be-
lieves that this Assembly should
demonstrate the Importance of free
dom of speech to the cause of peace.
n do not share the view of any who
are fearful of the effects Of free and
frank discussion in the United Ma
lions.
The United States attaches great
Importance to the principle Of free
discussion in this Assembly and In
the Security Council. The free and
direct exchange Of arguments and
information promotes understanding
and therefore contributes in the long
run to the removal of the fear Of
war and some of the causes Of war.
The United States believes that
the rule of unanimous accord among
the five permanent members of the
Security Council imposes upon these
members a special obligation. This
obligation is to seek and reach
agreements that will enable them
and the Security Council to fulfill
the responsibilities they have as
sumed under the Charter toward
their fellow members of the United
Nations and toward the maintenance
of peace.
1t is essential to the future of the
United Nations that the members
should use the Council as a means
for promoting settlement Of disputes
as well as for airing them. The ex-
ercise of neither veto rights nor
majority rights can make peace
secure. There is no substitute for
agreements that are universally ac-
ceptable because they are just to all
concerned. The Security Council is
intended to promote that kind of
agreement and it is fully qualified
for. that purpose.
Because it is able to function con-
tinuously, the Security Council rep
resents most significant develop
ment ia International relstions-the
continuing Application Of the public
and peaceful methods OF q council
chamber to the settlement of dis
putes between nations.
Two of the greatest obligations
undertaken by the United Nations
toward the removal of the fear Of
war remain to be fulfilled
First, we must reach an agree
ment establishing International con-
trolls of atomic energy that will in
sure its use for peaceful purposes
only, in accordance with the As
sembly's unanimous resolution OF
last winter.
Second, we must reach agreements
that will remove the deadly fear Of
other weapons of mass destruction,
in accordance with the same reso-
luton.
Good Faith Is Vital.
Each of these obligations is going
to be difficult to fulfill. Their full
fillment will require the utmost in
perseverance and good faith and we
cannot succeed without setting
fundamental presidents in the law
of nations. Each will be worth
everything in perseverance and good
faith that we can give to it. The
future safety Of the United Nations,