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Ford Press Releases - United Nations, 1965
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4525587
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Ford Press Releases - United Nations, 1965
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The original documents are located in Box D9, folder "Ford Press Releases - United
Nations, 1965" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D9 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR THE SENATE
THE JOINT SENATE-HOUSE
FOR THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Everett M. Dirksen, Leader
Thomas H. Kuchel, Whip
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
Gerald R. Ford,
Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Chr.
Leader
of the Policy Committee
Leslie C. Arends, Whip
Leverett Saltonstall, Chr.
Melvin R. Laird,
of the Conference
Press Release
Chr. of the Conference
Thruston B. Morton,
John J. Rhodes, Chr.
Chr. Republican
of the Policy Committee
Senatorial Committee
Clarence J. Brown,
PRESIDING OFFICER:
Ranking Member
The Republican
Issued following a
:Rules Committee
National Chairman
Leadership Meeting
Bob Wilson,
Ray C. Bliss
June 24, 1965
Chr. Republican
Congressional Committee
STATEMENT BY SENATOR DIRKSEN:
IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND ON
THE SENATE FLOOR
It is now clear that the United States has lost its fight to keep Article 19 of
the United Nations Charter alive. The fight was waged with neither skill nor
vigor.
No sophistry can mask the fact that the United Nations has been weakened and
that the present Administration has suffered a serious defeat.
Article 19 prescribes the penalty of loss of voting rights in the General
Assembly for any Member nation in arrears by two years or more in thepayment of its
contributions to the United Nations.
A decision of the World Court in 1962, ratified overwhelmingly by the General
Assembly, removed any doubt that the Soviet Union and some other nations are now
subject to the penalty of Article 19.
The Administration at first loudly announced its intention to insist on the
application of Article 19. It even threatened to withhold its contributions for
some U.N. activities if the Soviet Union failed to pay up.
Because of the issue raised by Article 19, the last session of the General
Assembly was a tragic farce with no voting at all until February 18. In effect,
the delinquent members of the United Nations deprived the nations that had lived
up to their obligations (including the United States) of their right to vote.
On February 18, a vote was taken. The acquiescence of the representative of
the United States in that action constituted an abandonment of the position which
he had taken until that time. On that day the position of the Administrations
exposed as a bluff, and a staggering blow was dealt to the structure of the United
Nations.
We regret the backdown of last February. Further action to make Article 19 a
dead letter will further weaken the United Nations.
Until the nations that are in arrears in their payments to the United Nations
manifest interest in preserving the international organization by moving to make
up their deficit, the United States should make no voluntary additional contribu-
tion. Once this nation embarks on a policy of paying the debts of other countries
to the United Nations, there will be no end to the process. It will help neither
the world organization nor the cause of peace.
Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-CApitol 4-3121 Ex 3700
STAFF CONSULTANT: Robert Humphreys
More
STATEMENT BY REP. GERALD R. FORD
- 2 -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND
ON THE SENATE FLOOR
We salute the United Nations with a mixture of satisfaction and apprehension
on the occasion of its twentieth anniversary.
Republicans (notably the late Senator Arthur Vandenberg) helped to bring this
organization into being. They have loyally supported its every effort to attain
the noble goals set forth in its Charter.
There is some encouragement in its accomplishments in keeping the peace in
certain troubled areas and there is reason for satisfaction in its social, economic,
and humanitarian activities.
Yet the United Nations today is in difficult straits. It is bankrupt. It has
been used as nothing more than a propaganda forum by many nations. It has violated
its Charter. The General Assembly was unable to take a vote on any substantive
issue in its last session.
The survival of the Organization as an effective agency is in doubt.
To save it, the United States and its other leading members must move to deal
with its problems instead of permitting them to fester and grow.
One problem is posed by the separation of power and responsibility. A two-
thirds majority of the 114 Members of the General Assembly can be put together by
nations representing 10 per cent of the population of U.N. Members and 5 per cent
of the contributions to the U.N. budget. Clearly, these small states cannot enforce
big decisions, and situations can easily arise in which big states will be unwilling
to follow the orders of smaller Members.
Anotherproblem is the relationship of the United Nations to regional organi-
zations such as the Organization of American States. In the Dominican Republic
representatives of the U.N. have in fact worked at cross purposes with the repre-
sentatives of the inter-American organization.
Finally, there is the problem of finance. For more than 3 years, the U.N. has
teetered on the brink of bankruptcy. At present it is $108 million in the red.
The problems are formidable. Solving them calls for determined action on the
part of the Administration.
---000000--
FOR THE SENATE:
THE JOINT SENATE-HOUSE
FOR THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Everett M. Dirksen, Leader
Thomas H. Kuchel, Whip
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP
Gerald R. Ford,
Bourke B. Hickenlooper, Chr.
Leader
of the Policy Committee
Leslie C. Arends, Whip
Leverett Saltonstall, Chr.
Melvin R. Laird,
of the Conference
Press Release
Chr. of the Conference
Thruston B. Morton,
John J. Rhodes, Chr.
Chr. Republican
of the Policy Committee
Senatorial Committee
Clarence J. Brown,
PRESIDING OFFICER:
Ranking Member
The Republican
Issued following a
Rules Committee
National Chairman
Leadership Meeting
Bob Wilson,
Ray C. Bliss
June 24, 1965
Chr. Republican
Congressional Committee
STATEMENT BY SENATOR DIRKSEN:
IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND ON
THE SENATE FLOOR
It is now clear that the United States has lost its fight to keep Article 19 of
the United Nations Charter alive. The fight was waged with neither skill nor
vigor.
No sophistry can mask the fact that the United Nations has been weakened and
that the present Administration has suffered a serious defeat.
Article 19 prescribes the penalty of loss of voting rights in the General
Assembly for any Member nation in arrears by two years or more in thepayment of its
contributions to the United Nations.
A decision of the World Court in 1962, ratified overwhelmingly by the General
Assembly, removed any doubt that the Soviet Union and some other nations are now
subject to the penalty of Article 19.
The Administration at first loudly announced its intention to insist on the
application of Article 19. It even threatened to withhold its contributions for
some U.N. activities if the Soviet Union failed to pay up.
Because of the issue raised by Article 19, the last session of the General
Assembly was a tragic farce with no voting at all until February 18. In effect,
the delinquent members of the United Nations deprived the nations that had lived
up to their obligations (including the United States) of their right to vote.
On February 18, a vote was taken. The acquiescence of the representative of
the United States in that action constituted an abandonment of the position which
he had taken until that time. On that day the position of the Administrationws
exposed as a bluff, and a staggering blow was dealt to the structure of the United
Nations.
We regret the backdown of last February. Further action to make Article 19 a
dead letter will further weaken the United Nations.
Until the nations that are in arrears in their payments to the United Nations
manifest interest in preserving the international organization by moving to make
up their deficit, the United States should make no voluntary additional contribu-
tion. Once this nation embarks on a policy of paying the debts of other countries
to the United Nations, there will be no end to the process. It will help neither
the world organization nor the cause of peace.
Room S-124 U.S. Capitol-CApitol 4-3121 Ex 3700
STAFF CONSULTANT: Robert Humphreys
More
STATEMENT BY REP. GERALD R. FORD
- 2 -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AND
ON THE SENATE FLOOR
We salute the United Nations with a mixture of satisfaction and apprehension
on the occasion of its twentieth anniversary.
Republicans (notably the late Senator Arthur Vandenberg) helped to bring this
organization into being. They have loyally supported its every effort to attain
the noble goals set forth in its Charter.
There is some encouragement in its accomplishments in keeping the peace in
certain troubled areas and there is reason for satisfaction in its social, economic,
and humanitarian activities.
Yet the United Nations today is in difficult straits. It is bankrupt. It has
been used as nothing more than a propaganda forum by many nations. It has violated
its Charter. The General Assembly was unable to take a vote on any substantive
issue in its last session.
The survival of the Organization as an effective agency is in doubt.
To save it, the United States and its other leading members must move to deal
with its problems instead of permitting them to fester and grow.
One problem is posed by the separation of power and responsibility. A two-
thirds majority of the 114 Members of the General Assembly can be put together by
nations representing 10 per cent of the population of U.N. Members and 5 per cent
of the contributions to the U.N. budget. Clearly, these small states cannot enforce
big decisions, and situations can easily arise in which big states will be unwilling
to follow the orders of smaller Members.
Anotherproblem is the relationship of the United Nations to regional organi-
zations such as the Organization of American States. In the Dominican Republic
representatives of the U.N. have in fact worked at cross purposes with the repre-
sentatives of the inter-American organization.
Finally, there is the problem of finance. For more than 3 years, the U.N. has
teetered on the brink of bankruptcy. At present it is $108 million in the red.
The problems are formidable. Solving them calls for determined action on the
part of the Administration.
---000000--