August 1944

World Affairs

The Dumbarton Oaks conference, which lays the foundation for the establishment of a new global security organizatioin, is held in Washington, D.C. The organization will be a representative body, without a security or police force. The members will contribute forces necessary to keep the peace. The conference issues a set of guidelines for the organization of the United Nations, a Secretariat, and an International Court of Justice. Also recommended is a Security Council of five permanent members (United States, Great Britain, China, USSR, and France) and six non-permanent member nations, which would have executive powers over the General Assembly of member nations. The USSR desires absolute veto power in the Security Council, even for disputes where it is one of the nations involved in a dispute. The United States holds the view that veto power would be exercised only in extraordinary circumstances to preserve peace. The USSR sees the veto power as a means of protecting its interests. The USSR also seeks 16 seats in the General Assembly, one for each of the nominally independent states of the Soviet Union.