The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1948-05-29


on the General Assembly and other organs of
the world organization)
TIIE SECURITY COUNCIL,
which is on of the principal organs in the United
Ma IS entrusted with the primary responsibility
f.. the maintenance of International peace and Sc
cuity"
There ar. eleven members in the Security Coun-
eli Five of the eleven permanent members,
named in III Charter China, Soviet Union, Great
Britain France and the United States. Six other ma
lions are elected for two-year terms by two-thirds
vote Of tn General Assembly
The main duties of the Council in relation to peace
fall under two headings the pacific settlement OF
disputes and q action to prevent or sup
press breach of the peace
IN THE PACIFIC SETTLEMENT
of disputes the operations of the Security Coun-
ell must be viewed in tho light of the general obliga-
lions contained in Articles and of the Charter
Among other things these articles contain pledge
that II members will settle their international dis
putes hy peaceful means that they will refrain from
giving assistance to any state against which the
United Nations is taking preventive enforcement
action
When measures short Of armed force seem
likely to prove ineffective, the Security Council is
empowered to take certain steps involving the use
of air, land and forces Special agreements
must still be worked out between the United Ma
lions and the individual member states for the pur
pose of providing an International police force.
Until such time the Charter provides that the
Zig Five shall consult with on another, and as &C.
cssion requires with other members of the United
Nations with view to such joint action on behalf OF
the organization as may be necessary for the purpose
70, tr iterm period the enforcement of peace is dir
ecy in the hands of the Big Five 1t will be interest
g to follow closely the developments in the Palestine
questions with reference to tho Security Councils
"cease-fre" order to Arabs and Jews.
THE QUESTION OF VOTING
in the Security Council left unsettled in the
Dunbartor Oaks Conference of 1914 when the Big
For China, Great Britain, Soviet Union and the
United States met to lay the foundations for world
organization. President Roosevelt proposed COM
D omi7e formula to the Big Three Crmea Conference
| in January, 1945.
The essence of the "Yalta Veto Formula" is fol-
lows:
1. A question of procedure is decided by
ANY SEVEN votes This includes deci-
siOns as to whether not the Council
shall discuss particular question.
| 2. Peaceful settlement Of disputes is de-
cidcd by SEVEN votes. The members
of the Security Council who are parties
| to = dispute do not vote. However,
members of the Big Five who
| not parties to a dispute must ALL vote
affirmatvely.
3. Use of economic military force to
check a threat to the peace is decided
by the Big Five, plus any two other
members.
In other words the veto consists in the ability of
any of the Big Five to prevent action by the cast
| ing OF a negative vote The Soviet Union has on
| many occasions used its veto powers to keep vital
p 'oblems off the Councils agenda
WHAT WAS THE PHILOSOPHY
behind this Yalta compromise? The Yalto veto
formula based the positive assumption that