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Grand Rapids Rotary, October 21, 1965
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Grand Rapids Rotary, October 21, 1965
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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The original documents are located in Box D19, folder "Grand Rapids Rotary, October 21,
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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 D19 of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
READING TEXT
Grand Rapids Rotary
October 21, 1965
At this critical hour in the space of world history, our delight
with the progress made by the United Nations so far is somewhat
dampened by the need for serious examination of the organisation
and the responsibilities it must face in the years shead.
Twenty years ago we looked upon the United Nations with jubilant
hopes and enthusiasm. Some think that these emotions have turned
to cynicism.
There are those who say the U.N. is dying a slow death. They see
no hope for survival.
I emphasise on this eve of the U.N's anniversary that we are not
here to bury the organisation that carries the hope for world peace
on the shoulders of its member nations. The U.N. is not ready to
GERALD ASVERIA
be buried. The peoples of the world are not in a modd to sound
life.
its death knell. They and the United States want the U.N. to live a long W
U.N.
&
Certainly, some extremists here and abroad clamor for the
disintergration of the United Nations. Thankfully, they
constitutute a small, if often loud, minority.
We must face reality, of course. The United Nations is in trouble.
For it reflects the condition of the world... as it should.
However...greatness emerges from trouble and strife. Greatness
in accomplishments is a hallmark of free men working their will.
I have great confidence that the greatness of the United Nations
will slowly emerge if the peoples of the world stand strong in
their faith.
On the negative side we can say that the General Assembly is somewhat
paralyzed over peacekeeping finances. And above all, the U.N.
appears impotent when the major powers bicker and squabble.
The formal veto stifled the Security Council. The silent veto---
FORD LIBRARY
the хими refusal to pay dues, the failure to play the game according
to the rules---undercuts the entire organisation.
-more-
U.N.
-3-
The past summer, President Johnson ordered a capitulation
to the demands of the Soviet Union and 11 other nations by
allowing them to dodge their financial obligations as U.N. members.
The President ignored Article 19 of the U.N. charter which clearly
states that any nation which has not paid its dues or assessments
for two years shall lose its vote in the General Assembly.
Russia, eight of its satellites as well as France, Yemen, and South
Africa refused to meet their legal financial obligations for the
support of the U.N.
They owe $108 million for Congo and Middle East peace actions...both
vital to preventing war in the world.
In granting Russia and the other nations full voting rights despite
their financial delinquency, the President completely and affectly
surrendered. He also ignored the expressed will of Congress.
-more-
U.N.
die
A year ago, the House unanimously adopted a resolution calling for
the enforcement of Article 19. I reiterate what I said on the floor
at that tim.... "There is no room for compromise. Our U.N. delegates
should demand that these other nations make their payments as they
are required to do so under the Charter and the World Court decision.
This is not a negotiable issue in the U.N.
We can ask, what is left for the United Nations?
The answer may be---the right to suggest, to recommend, to
persuade, and certainly, to deliberate.
The world stmosphere has drastically changed since the creation of
the U.N. in 1945. Therefore, suggestion, recomm endation, permassion,
and deliberation may have to be conducted with different outlooks.
Recall what Trygve Lie said about the new U.M....."We have built
as strong an organisation as all of them could agree
upon....and as, in their judgment, could in practice be effective
GERAL FORD VIBRARY
at this stage in the history of the world."
-more-
U.N.
Today, history's stage is changed.
Since the words were uttered by Trygve Lie, we have witnessed
the mushrooms of atomic fury...the stark reality of the hydrogen
bomb. New centers of power are emerging.
Despite the new challenges, the new forces, the strong voices of
dissent and criticism, the cynicism, the cries for abolishing the
U.M., this great world peace organisation has a record of
major accomplishments.
The United Nations has made rapid strides in the fields of health,
agriculture, education and other activities related to economic and
social development.
International protection is provided for more than a million refuguess..
They are provided food, shelter, medical care, education.
More than 500 U.N. programs benefit children by helping developing
countries fight disease, hunger, malnuirition, ignorance and the
break-down of family life.
-more-
U.N.
-6-
Millions of children are prevented from getting malaria, tuberculosis,
leprosy. Millions more are cured.
Through applied nutrition programs in 70 countries, the U.N. helps
governments increase local production of eggs, fish, vegetables. ...
44 countries are assisted in the training of primary school teachers.
Children caught in shanty towns and big-city slums are aided by the
U.N support of day=care centers, comunnity and health clubs.
Secretary General U Thant describes the U.N.'s world-wide work
as "the foundation upon which new concepts of human welfare and
solidarity are being developed."....This is one of the reasons
why 1965 is designated by the General Assembly as International
Ce-Operation Year.
Although the U.M. is strengthening its activities in the areas of
economic and social welfare, it faces other tasks of awesome
proportions.
GERALD FORD FIBRARY
-more-
U.N.
-7-
With a fullscale war in Viet Nam, trouble brewing in many places,
and unrest surging through the target nations of Communisin,
the U.N. has R greater role and responsibility than ever.
It seems to me the U.N. charter, created in a less troublesome
time, should be re-examined with the thought of more effeicient
stanking ways to cope with the modern problems of a more modern world.
If we fail, we could be witness to oblivion.
Somehow, some way, we must insist that the member nations conduct
themselves within the rules and regulations of the United Nations.
The U.N. must have sufficient, but limited, powers to prevent aggression
by those who would rule the world with iron fists.
Great power and great danger go hand-in-hand. A mistake, a lapse
in Judgment, an instant of madness could plunge the nations of the
world into one final war.
-mcre-
U.N.
-8-
As
we near October 24th, United Nations Day, we pay tribute to
those who worked with dedication to set the goals of the
organization.
The U.N. reasons for existence are clearly stated in the Preamble
to the Charter. The goals are:... "to reaffirm faith in the
fundamental human rights to promote social progress... to unite
our strength and to maintain international peace and security...
to save succeeding generations the scourge of war."
On the anniversary of the United States we salute those who wrote
those brave words... we salute their vision...and we salute those who
have tried in the past 20 years to make these words live.
-more-
U.N.
&
These were ideas of greatness. They are still ideas of greatness.
We have no higher calling than to pledge ourselves as individuals,
as citizens of a free nation in the society of other nations, to
the task of assuring peace in the world.....now and forever.
# # #
GERALD FORD VIBRARY