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With ever-increasing brutality and destruction,
modern warfare, if unchecked, would ultimately crush all civili-
zation. We still have a choice between the alternatives: the
continuation of international chaos -- or the establishment of
TRUMAN
a world organization for the enforcement of peace.
"NATIONAL
ARCHIVES AND
REVENUE
RECORDS
SERVICE
It is not the purpose of this Conference to draft a
treaty of peace in the old sense of that term. It is not our
assignment to settle specific questions of territories, bound-
aries, citizenship and reparations.
This Conference will devote its energies and its labors
exclusively to the single problem of setting up the essential
organization to keep the peace. You are to write the fundamental
charter.
Our sole objective, at this decisive gathering, is to
create the structure. We must provide the machinery, which will
make future peace, not only possible, but certain.
The construction of this delicate machine is far more
complicated than drawing boundary lines on a map, or estimating
fair reparations, or placing reasonable limits upon armaments.
Your task must be completed first.
We represent the overwhelming majority of all mankind.
We speak for people, who have endured the most savage and
devastating war ever inflicted upon innocent men, women and
children.
We hold a powerful mandate from our people. They
believe we will fulfill this obligation. We must prevent, if
human mind, heart and hope can prevent it, the repetition of
the disaster from which the entire world will suffer for years.
to come.
If we should pay merely lip service to inspiring ideals,
and later do violence to simple justice, we would draw down upon
us the bitter wrath of generations yet unborn.
We must not continue to sacrifice the flower of our
youth merely to check madmen, those who in every age plan world
domination. The sacrifices of our youth today must lead, through
your efforts, to the building for tomorrow of a mighty combina-
tion of nations founded upon justice for peace.
Justice remains the greatest power on earth.
To that tremendous power alone, will we submit.
Nine days ago, I told the Congress of the United States,
and I now repeat it to you:
"Nothing is more essential to the future peace
of the world, than continued cooperation of the
nations, which had to muster the force necessary
to defeat the conspiracy of the axis powers to
dominate the world.
"While these great states have a special responsi-
bility to enforce the peace, their responsibility
is based upon the obligations resting upon all
states, large and small, not to use force in
international relations, except in the defense
of law. The responsibility of the great states
is to serve, and not dominate the peoples of
the world.
None of us doubt that with Divine guidance, friendly co-
operation, and hard work, we shall find an adequate answer to the
problem history has put before us.
Preservation
Copy
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"ocrText": "2 -\nWith ever-increasing brutality and destruction,\nmodern warfare, if unchecked, would ultimately crush all civili-\nzation. We still have a choice between the alternatives: the\ncontinuation of international chaos -- or the establishment of\nTRUMAN\na world organization for the enforcement of peace.\n\"NATIONAL\nARCHIVES AND\nREVENUE\nRECORDS\nSERVICE\nIt is not the purpose of this Conference to draft a\ntreaty of peace in the old sense of that term. It is not our\nassignment to settle specific questions of territories, bound-\naries, citizenship and reparations.\nThis Conference will devote its energies and its labors\nexclusively to the single problem of setting up the essential\norganization to keep the peace. You are to write the fundamental\ncharter.\nOur sole objective, at this decisive gathering, is to\ncreate the structure. We must provide the machinery, which will\nmake future peace, not only possible, but certain.\nThe construction of this delicate machine is far more\ncomplicated than drawing boundary lines on a map, or estimating\nfair reparations, or placing reasonable limits upon armaments.\nYour task must be completed first.\nWe represent the overwhelming majority of all mankind.\nWe speak for people, who have endured the most savage and\ndevastating war ever inflicted upon innocent men, women and\nchildren.\nWe hold a powerful mandate from our people. They\nbelieve we will fulfill this obligation. We must prevent, if\nhuman mind, heart and hope can prevent it, the repetition of\nthe disaster from which the entire world will suffer for years.\nto come.\nIf we should pay merely lip service to inspiring ideals,\nand later do violence to simple justice, we would draw down upon\nus the bitter wrath of generations yet unborn.\nWe must not continue to sacrifice the flower of our\nyouth merely to check madmen, those who in every age plan world\ndomination. The sacrifices of our youth today must lead, through\nyour efforts, to the building for tomorrow of a mighty combina-\ntion of nations founded upon justice for peace.\nJustice remains the greatest power on earth.\nTo that tremendous power alone, will we submit.\nNine days ago, I told the Congress of the United States,\nand I now repeat it to you:\n\"Nothing is more essential to the future peace\nof the world, than continued cooperation of the\nnations, which had to muster the force necessary\nto defeat the conspiracy of the axis powers to\ndominate the world.\n\"While these great states have a special responsi-\nbility to enforce the peace, their responsibility\nis based upon the obligations resting upon all\nstates, large and small, not to use force in\ninternational relations, except in the defense\nof law. The responsibility of the great states\nis to serve, and not dominate the peoples of\nthe world.\nNone of us doubt that with Divine guidance, friendly co-\noperation, and hard work, we shall find an adequate answer to the\nproblem history has put before us.\nPreservation\nCopy"
}