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    "localId": "750266",
    "label": "Foreign Affairs File, 1940-1953: Dumbarton Oaks Proposals, Comments and Proposed Amendments Concerning:  May 7, 1945",
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    "id": "750266",
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    "title": "Foreign Affairs File, 1940-1953: Dumbarton Oaks Proposals, Comments and Proposed Amendments Concerning:  May 7, 1945",
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{
    "seq": 321,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
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    "ocrText": "the Netherlands Government seek is discussion in a sober,\npractical and constructive spirit, and they wish their\nremarks to be considered as offered in that spirit. Also,\nthey wish to preface them by an expression of their\ngratitude to the groat powers who took the initiative\nfor the Dumbarton Oaks Conversations and to the states-\nmen who took part in them, for having produced c. document\nwhich, although its original promoters have called it\ntentative, may well prove to be much more than a useful\nstarting-point.\nThe plan has been authoritatively called \"the key-\nstone of the arch\", the arch which is to represent the\norganisation of the post-war international community.\nWhat are the pillars of that arch? The firm determination\nof the nember-states to make the organisation a success?\nOr such regional groupings as are considered consistent\nwith its purposes and principles? Or the system of voting\nwhich remains to be devised and inserted, and which will\nto a large extent be the critical element detormining\nthe scope of the organisation's possibilities? One thing\nis certain: a set of rules, however carefully devised and\nhowever porfect on paper, will nevor by itself suffice\nto maintain international penco and security. The best\norganisation is uscless if the will of its mombers to\nwield it for the good of the world is lacking. Nothing\nbut that determination can support the scheme and make it\nwork as it should; without it it will come crashing to\nthe ground.\nBut it scems necessary that every citizen of the\nworld should realise equally clearly that, whether there\nis such a scheme or not, nothing will help the world if\nthe great powers are not in agreement, and they were\ncertainly right in having this consideration constantly\nin their mind when working out the Dumbarton Oaks Plan.\nAt the same timo, it is confidently belioved thet the\ngreat powers will be the first to admit (1) that at all\ntimes they therefore are in duty bound not only to them-\nselves but to all other states, to come to an agroement\non important matters of common concern, and (2) that,\nif they fail to reach an agreement, even the claborate\nprovisions of the Dumbarton Oaks Plen will be of no\navail. Therefore, continuous, organised, and collective\nThe\nARCHIVES AND\nCORDS\nRERVICE\n2u\n- 4 -"
}