Evening star., 1946-12-17
A Positive Performance

There is good reason for the con-
siderable optimism marking the end
of the 1916 session Of the United
Nations General Assembly. The
eight weeks OF debate and delibera-
ton which at times seemed to be
getting nowhere-haye been un-
deniably productive, sufficiently SO
to establish the U. N. as a going
concern meriting a new measure OF
International hope and confidence.
Apart from making possible a full
airing of clashing views on the most
pressing issues of the hour, the
f1fty-four nation meeting has had
the effect OF reconciling many OF
those views and of creating a more
wholesome atmosphere all around.
II appearances mean anything,
there is now greater degree OF
international understanding than
there was when the session began
"a better spirit. a wider tendency
toward fair-minded policy OF mu-
tual give-and- take, livelier faith
that cooperation for peace can be
brought out of the realm of mere
words into the realm of concrete
action.
In a sense, this change of temper
may be viewed as perhaps the most
significant feature of the eight-week
meeting. Though not in itself spe-
cific and measurable, it can do much
from now on to encourage specific
and measurable steps Of far
reaching character. Indeed. before
the Assembly adjourned, the i'm
proved spirit was Of more than a
little Importance in promoting
agreement on several hitherto con-
troversial issues. Thus, there was
concrete action on making Manhat-
tan the permanent home Of the
United Nations and on setting up a
Trusteeship Council with the ulti-
mate objective Of guiding dependent
peoples toward self-rule. Thus, too, !,
there was Affirmative action on a
resolution calling for restrained use
of the Big Five veto power; and on
another resolution requesting the
of ministers and ambas-
sadors from Franco Spain; and on
yet another resolution for the crea-
ton of an international refugee or
ganization. Above everything, there
was unanimous action in favor of
measures for the regula-
ton and reduction of all arms and
Ill armed forces. with special en-
ohasis on the atom and other in
;truments of mass destruction.
It is true enough, of course, that
some of these resolutions-notably
1n the veto and Franco-are of
relatively minor consequence. Taken
as whole, however, they represent
definite progress and may properly
be described as important first steps
to translate words into deeds. This
applies with particular force to the
agreement on disarmament. A lot
of time will be required to work out
all the implementing measures. but
at least the project has been started,
and the world can be thankful for
that. II for no other reason than
this, the Assembly could be hailed
now for what 1t has accomplished
In New York, but actually 1t has
achieved enough in addition to be
credited with it's most positive per-
formance since the founding of the
United Nations.
Moreover, the Assembly's work
must be coupled with the simulta-
neous accomplishments of the Coun-
ell of Foreign Ministers-the COM
pletion of the Italian and Axis satel- ,
lite treaties and the agreement to
meet in Moscow to write the Aus
trian and German settlements.
Everything considered. not least of
all Russia's shift to a conciliatory
policy, the prospect as a whole has
markedly. The road to
q good peace remains long and
rocky, but il the nations continue
to act in their new and friendIer
mood, they should be able to travel
It's full length and build a world
liberated at last from the black
curse of war.