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From Labor Action, Vol. 13 No. 51, 19 December 1949, pp. 1 & 4.
Transcribed & marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for the Encyclopaedia of Trotskyism On-Line (ETOL).
The fourth regular session of the United Nations General Assembly was concluded last week. During this session the Assembly took action on some 33 “major” matters. But it did not solve a single important question which could begin to relieve the world of the terrible state’ into which it has fallen since the war.
When the United Nations was first being formed in San Francisco, most newspapers, statesmen and the “heavy thinkers” hailed it as the answer to the prayers of a war-torn world. Labor Action stated then clearly and without hesitation that the United Nations would not and could not solve any of the problems which have to be solved if the world is to become a place where people can live in safety and security. We were denounced as gloomy prophets and defeatists. Let the record of the fourth regular session of the Assembly speak for itself.
DISARMAMENT: The Assembly voted to request the Security Council to continue its study for the reduction of “conventional armaments.” Russia and its satellites said: either include inspection and control of atomic weapons or there will be no control of non-atomic weapons.
The Assembly voted to have the big nations continue closed-door consultations on dealing with atomic weapons. The Russians said that unless their proposals are accepted there is no point to further consultations.
Conclusions: Nothing will be done about disarmament, except to build more arms, atomic and “conventional”.
COLONIAL COUNTRIES AND TRUSTEESHIPS: The Assembly voted to get an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legal status Of Southwest Africa, which has been annexed by the Union of South Africa. It expressed “regret” that the Union refused to furnish information on this territory, or to place it under UN trusteeship. The Union still refuses to pay any attention to the Assembly.
The Assembly voted to give Somaliland back to Italy under trusteeship for ten years, to give Libya independence in 1952, and to defer action on Eritrea till next year.
The Assembly voted ten resolutions providing for international review and investigation of conditions in the colonies. It called on colonial powers to submit information on what they are doing to “help” their colonies toward political independence, and called for investigations into illiteracy, health and other matters in the colonies.
Britain, France and Belgium have stated that they will resist some or most of these investigations, as they would cause “unrest” among the colonials.
The Assembly also voted a series of resolutions designed to improve conditions for the fifteen million people in the African and Pacific trusteeships which have been placed under the tender mercies of colonial powers. But the resolutions simply “urge” the powers having control over these peoples to give them a square deal.
With regard to Korea, the Assembly told the United Nations Commission there to prevent civil war. The Russian countries voted against, and as Russia controls Northern Korea and would be the source of any civil war which might break out there, this commission might as well stay at home.
Conclusions: By and large,.the colonies remain colonies, and the colonials remain exploited colonials. The Assembly urged the colonial powers to do things which they openly state they have no intention of doing. If the condition of the colonials is to be improved, they will have to win these improvements for themselves largely by their own efforts.
WAR AND PEACE: During the past year open warfare has raged in at least three parts of the world. The central danger facing all peoples is World War III.
The Russian group proposed a resolution for a non-aggression pact among the “Big Five,” outlawing the atom bomb and condemning the United States and Britain for preparing war. The Assembly voted this down, and passed a resolution urging all hands to get together and settle their differences in the spirit of the UN charter. If a resolution could do it, it would have been done the day the charter was signed.
War is raging in China, with the Stalinists backed by Russia and the United States keeping out only because they couldn’t find anyone in China to back. But the Assembly voted that all nations should keep hands off China, respect her territorial integrity, honor existing treaties (some of which deprive China of some of her territorial integrity) and permit her people to freely choose their own political institutions. Of course, neither side in the civil war has any intention of letting the Chinese people choose anything freely.
The Assembly welcomed the announcement that the Dutch, their puppets in Indonesia and the Republic of Indonesia have reached an agreement. Of course, the “agreement” was reached only after the Republic had been defeated in a bloody and treacherous war by the Dutch.
The Assembly further called for a complete arms embargo by all members against Bulgaria and Albania as long as these countries continue to send aid to the Stalinist guerrillas in Greece. The Russian group voted against. They have been supplying all the arms anyway. If it weren’t for the fact that the guerrillas have been pretty well defeated by British and American arms supplied to the reactionary government, this resolution would mean even less than it does.
Conclusions: By now everyone knows that the UN can’t prevent a major war. When minor wars (against colonials) have been waged by UN members successfully, it seems the results are going to get official blessings. When these are being waged by the Russian and American blocs by proxy (Greece) the Assembly can pass resolutions, but the bigger battalions will still decide.
HUMAN RIGHTS: The Assembly defeated a Polish resolution to condemn mistreatment of foreign workers by the Western powers. It passed a resolution urging all nations to adopt an International Labor Organization convention barring discriminatory treatment of- foreign workers. It has no power to compel fair treatment to foreign workers anywhere.
The Assembly expressed “increasing concern” that religious and political freedoms are being violated in Bulgaria, Hungary and Rumania. The Russian bloc voted against. But everyone knows that political and/or religious freedoms are being violated in all Stalinist countries, in most of Latin America, in all the colonies, in all the occupied countries, and in the United States. It’s just a question of manner and degree, though that question is mighty important to those whose rights are being violated.
The Assembly voted to urge all UN members to adopt effective measures to achieve and maintain full and productive employment everywhere. But it didn’t tell the nations how it can be done. At any rate, it’s doubtful whether the unemployed in all lands can pay their bills with this resolution.
The Assembly tabled consideration of a pact on freedom of information. It approved a draft convention for the suppression of traffic in human beings and the exploitation of the prostitution of others. Britain and France voted against when their amendment to “exempt” the colonies from slavery and pimpery was defeated.
Conclusions: Draw your own, if you have the stomach for it.
All the above is an extremely brief summary of the resolutions adopted and defeated, and many have been left out altogether.
The votes for and against have been omitted. But they followed a single dismal pattern. On many votes it was simply Russian imperialism on one side, and the other imperialisms on the other, with a few small nations twisting and squirming with the pressures. On other votes it was just a matter of all hands voting “against” when the shoe pinched them, and “for” the shoe pinching the other fellow. United action was achieved only on matters which are of little concern to any of us.
What further proof is needed of the futility of the United Nations when it comes to solving any important matter? Independent Socialists have said, and the facts bear us out: The United Nations is a debating-ground for the governments of the world. These governments represent ruling classes in all lands which oppress their own peoples and other peoples who have fallen into their power. They are preparing for World War III. This will be so till the oppressed in each country and in all countries organize themselves politically and depose the ruling classes which fatten on their oppression and prepare them to slaughter each other. Only when the common people have actual political power in their countries will they be able to send delegations to a world body to legislate peace, security and freedom.
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