March 31, 1947

UNITED NATIONS

REPORT ON SECOND PART OP FIRST SESSION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY


Right Hon. L. S. ST. LAURENT (Secretary of State for External Affairs): Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to table the report on the second part of the first session of the general assembly of the united nations which was held in New York from October 23 to December 15 last year. Copies of the report are being circulated to all members of the house. The present copies of the report are in English; a French edition is in preparation. Though the report is formally a report on the New \rork meeting of the assembly, it is in fact more than that. The discussions of some issues in New York were part of a process of study and discussion which had gone United Nations on in various bodies of the united nations since the end of the first part of the first session of the assembly in London. The report therefore covers many of the developments in the united nations during the whole period from the close of the London meeting on February 14, 1946 until the close of the New York meeting on December 15, 1946. This is indicated in the title of the report, which is "The United Nations, 1946". The report is the third in the series of reports which the Department of External Affairs has issued on the united nations. The first report was on the San Francisco conference and the second report on the London meeting of the assembly. Together, those three reports describe the progress of the united nations and Canada's participation in it from the opening of the San Francisco conference to the end of 1946. In many ways, this report is a departure from ordinary practice. It is not merely that it is more extensive but it is more explanatory and more outspoken. Frankness is, I think, appropriate in a report of the united nations from the government of Canada to the parliament and people of Canada. The charter of the united nations begins with the words "We, the peoples of the United Nations". The charter thus recognizes a very direct relation between the united nations and the individual citizen of the member states. It is, therefore, fitting that the Canadian government should give to the citizens of Canada a full account of its steward' ship in respect of the united nations. The report contains not only a summary of the discussions and decisions of the assembly but also the text of the more important resolutions adopted by the assembly. It tells how Canada voted on about forty of the more important or the more controversial issues and gives the reasons why the Canadian representatives voted as they did. It also gives the text of the more important speeches made by Canadian representatives at the plenary meetings of the assembly and in the committees. The report is a lengthy document and perhaps the members of the house w'ould allow me to draw attention to some of the sections which might be of particular interest. The preface to the report explains the structure of the united nations and of the various bodies linked to it. We thought that this might be useful because the structure is somewhat complex. This is followed by a general survey of the work which the assembly was able to accom-83166-119j plish in New York. Perhaps I might mention some of the conclusions set forth in that survey. More was accomplished in New York than could reasonably have been expected when the assembly opened. The assembly demonstrated that, when it had delicate political questions to deal with, it would usually deal with them with moderation and restraint. Usually, not always. It would be too much to expect of any deliberative body, when it is dealing with questions which arouse deep feelings, that it should always act with moderation and restraint. Appeals to passion and prejudice were made, for example, in the debates on the Spanish question and on the treatment of Indians in South Africa. These appeals were not confined to the advocates of any particular resolution. Under present conditions issues like the Spanish and South African issues cannot be properly settled in a deliberative body such as the assembly by counting heads. Unfortunately this truth was not always recognized in the discussion of these issues but it was recognized in the discussions on disarmament. What appears to be the most important accomplishment of the assembly in New York was the unanimous adoption of the resolution on disarmament, and this unanimity was made possible only by the joint and sustained efforts of many delegations to reconcile the separate proposals which each had advanced. These efforts were based on a common recognition of the fact that, if an assembly resolution on disarmament was to have practical results, it had to be concurred in by all the heavily armed powers and by the great majority of all the other powers. One encouraging feature of the assembly was that in voting on important questions there were few hard and fast blocs of states. To demonstrate this, we have included in the report an appendix showing how each of the 54 members of the united nations voted on ten significant issues. This table is worthy, I think, of careful study. The general survey of the work of the assembly is supplemented by a somewhat similar survey of the work of the economic and social council. The structure of organized intergovernmental cooperation on economic and social questions is more complex today than before the war. In addition to the economic and social organs of the united nations itself there are at present seven, and there may soon be twelve, international organizations which are specialized and functional and to which large areas of international collaboration have been entrusted. It is hoped that this great United Nations



series of organizations will provide for comprehensive and varied attack on those economic and social problems to the solution of which international collaboration can contribute. The range and complexity of the system, however, carry with them certain dangers. The report sets forth some of these dangers as we see them and some of the ways in which they might be minimized. One of the dangers is that, because of the increasing number of international meetings and their increasing length, governments may find it difficult to send adequate delegations to all the meetings. It was for this reason that the Canadian government had included in the agenda of the assembly in New York an item entitled "measures to economize the time of the general assembly". Our views on this question, to which we attach considerable importance, are set forth fully in the report. The general survey is followed by sections dealing with each of the main issues which arose in New York. These are grouped under six heads-political, economic and social, trusteeship, administrative and budgetary, legal, and other questions. I shall not attempt to list these questions. I would, however, like to draw the special attention of the members of the house to the section on disarmament. We feel that Canada was able to make a valuable contribution to the discussions in New York. On this question and in order that the record may speak for itself, we have included in the appendix to the report the text of the final disarmament resolution together with the various preceding drafts including the Canadian proposals. We have also included the speeches given by Canadian representatives in explanation of the Canadian proposals. It seems clear that, had the assembly adopted a disarmament resolution wrhich contained the imperfections and ambiguities present in the original proposals, the debates, which would have been precipitated in the security council and the atomic energy commission on the precise meaning of the words of the resolution and exactly what the assembly had recommended the security council and the atomic energy commission to do, would have been long, harassing, and probably sterile. As members of the house who have attended international conferences know, a great deal of the most useful work of a delegation does not appear on the surface of events. Perhaps the proportion that rises above the surface is very much the same as the proportion of an iceberg which is above the surface of the water. As an indication of this, we have thought it wise to include in the report the text of the "working paper" on disarmament which was prepared in the Canadian delegation over three weeks before we formally submitted to the assembly our resolution on disarmament. We have also printed for the first time the memorandum on sanctions and the veto which the Canadian delegation to the atomic energy commission circulated to the commission on December 19. Questions have been raised about Canada's attitude on the various issues which have arisen in the united nations concerning relations with the present regime in Spain. I think that hon. members will find that these questions are fully dealt with in the report. There is, for example, a statement of the position which Canada took on each of fourteen votes on the Spanish question. In the hope that it might be of assistance to the special committee of both houses which is to be set up to study the question of human rights and fundamental freedoms, we have included in the report the statement of essential human rights which was drawn up [DOT]by a committee appointed by the American Law Institute, the resolution of the assembly referring that statement to the commission on human rights, and the resolution of the economic and social council establishing the human rights commission. During this session of parliament, the house may be asked to consider various questions relating to refugees and international relief. There are sections in the report dealing with these questions which might provide useful background material for the members. The same applies to the sections in the report on the budget of the united nations and on the scale of contributions to those budgets. The Canadian delegation to the assembly in New York .contained members not only from the government side but also from the Progressive Conservative and C.C.F. parties. I should like to take advantage of this opportunity to express on behalf of the government our appreciation of the contribution which was made to the work of the delegation in New York by the leader of the opposition in this house and the leader of the opposition in the Senate and by the leader in this house of the C.C.F. party. We worked together as a team in New York. We discussed fully and frankly at daily meetings the problems with which the delegation was confronted. This policy of sending to the general assembly of the united nations a delegation representing all the major political parties of Canada is an experiment. Under our system of government, the government of the day must accept full responsibility for every action of a delegation at an international conference. United Nations That responsibility must be ours and we do not ask the opposition parties to share it. We do feel, however, that it is of immense value to the people of Canada .to have leading members of the opposition parties participate at the united nations assembly in the discussions which lead up to decisions on the attitude which the Canadian delegation should take. Pending the time when we may be able to have a discussion in this house of Canada's relations with the united nations, it might be appropriate to have this report considered by the standing committee on external affairs and, if I have the unanimous consent of the house, I should be glad to move that the report now tabled be referred to that committee. .


PC

Thomas Langton Church

Progressive Conservative

Mr. CHURCH:

The UNO is nothing but a tower of Babel. We should send missionaries over there instead of politicians.

Topic:   UNITED NATIONS
Subtopic:   REPORT ON SECOND PART OP FIRST SESSION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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PC

John Bracken (Leader of the Official Opposition)

Progressive Conservative

Mr. JOHN BRACKEN (Leader of the Opposition):

Mr. Speaker, I am sure the

members of the house will welcome the receipt of this report from the Secretary of State for External Affairs (Mr. St. Laurent). I rise to make one observation and to ask one question. The observation I wish to make is as a member of the Canadian delegation to the general assembly of the united nations which met in New York last fall. As a member of that delegation I wish to pay tribute to the man who was honoured in having been chosen as chairman of the delegation. We found not only the chairman of the delegation but the technical advisers well prepared for the heavy task which they had to perform. We found the minister always courteous and thorough and one in whom we could take pride as chairman of the delegation of which we were all members. While I am speaking of the chairman of the delegation I want my words to apply equally to all of the members, including the hon. member for Rosetown-Biggar who sits to my left.

After glancing at the report which has been tabled, and from what the minister has said, I take it that it is not a report of the general assembly of the united nations but rather a report of the Department of External Affairs on what took place at that gathering.

Mr. ST. LAURENT: That is correct; it is a report of the part taken by the Canadian delegation in the activities of the assembly.

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PC

John Bracken (Leader of the Official Opposition)

Progressive Conservative

Mr. BRACKEN:

It is a report of the

Canadian delegation, or rather of the Department of External Affairs, dealing substantially

with what took place at the general assembly in New York during the months of November and December last?

Mr. ST. LAURENT: Yes.

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Leslie Gordon Bell

Mr. M. J. COLD WELL (Rosetown-Biggar):

Since the leader of the opposition has referred to the chairman of the delegation at New York I should like to associate myself with his remarks in that regard. Canada and the Canadian delegation were fortunate indeed in having the present Secretary of State for External Affairs as chairman of the delegation. As he said, we met every morning, and while sometimes we did not see eye to eye with him in every particular, through his ability h* was always more or less able to bring us together to present something of a united front. I think that was a great tribute, both to the chairman and to all of the members of the delegation. I should like to associate myself with the leader of the opposition in paying this brief tribute to the work of the chairman.

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PC

Gordon Graydon

Progressive Conservative

Mr. GRAYDON:

May I be permitted to ask the minister one question? I did not hear the minister mention the work of the security council. I realize that we are not on that council yet, although I have hopes that at sonie time we shall be. That council of course has been doing important work and is the one organ of the united nations which is heavily endowed with power. I wonder why in the report there was no reference by some of our observers in the Department of External Affairs to the work of the security council, which is of tremendous interest and concern to all Canadians.

Mr. ST. LAURENT: This was intended to be a report of the Department of External Affairs on the participation of the Canadian delegation in the work of the united nations and the Canadian representative on the atomic energy commission who participated in the work of the security council on the atomic energy question. He was called in under I think it is section 31 of the charter of the united nations. Our participation to that extent was covered by the report I tabled the other day on the work of the atomic energy commission.

As to the activities of the security council, the hon. member will find that they are indirectly referred to in the discussion of the matter of the voting procedure in the security council, but that is the only portion that was covered. There will be available to hon. members copies of the report of the security council. There was a report of the security council to the general assembly, which served

Veterans Guard oj Canada

as the basis for much of the work of the general assembly on this second part of the first assembly.

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PC

Gordon Graydon

Progressive Conservative

Mr. GRAYDON:

Have we an observer constantly at the security council gathering?

Mr. ST. LAURENT: No, we have not an observer. We have not appointed a representative to be permanently at the site of the united nations, and we have no permanent observer at the security council. Though I shared with my hon. friend the disappointment we experienced when we were not elected to the security council, I must confess that had we been there we would not yet have any accomplishment to be proud of.

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SEASONAL DELIVERY QUOTAS ON BASIS OF SEEDED ACREAGE

LIB

James Angus MacKinnon (Minister of Trade and Commerce)

Liberal

Hon. J. A. MacKINNON (Minister of Trade and Commerce):

I wish to make a brief statement in regard to the basis of wheat deliveries in western Canada. Members of the house will recall that since August 1, 1941 wheat delivery quotas have been based upon what was known as the authorized acreage. An authorized acreage was established covering each farm unit in western Canada and delivery quotas were established on the basis of so many bushels per authorized acre. Authorized acreages were more equitable than seeded acreages whenever there was a possibility of a final limitation on producers' wheat deliveries in any crop year. Because it is not the intention of the government finally to limit wheat deliveries, it has been thought advisable on grounds of equity to use a seeded acreage basis in 1947-48.

Under the conditions which now exist the government is of the view that for the crop year 1947-48 and until further notice, any seasonal delivery quotas necessary for wheat and other grains in western Canada will be based on seeded acreage.

I am making this statement at this time in order that grain producers in the west may understand that any seasonal delivery quotas which may be established in the coming crop year will be on a seeded acreage basis for wheat and other grains.

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VETERANS GUARD OF CANADA

DISBANDMENT-EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS ON BEHALF OF CANADIAN PEOPLE

LIB

Brooke Claxton (Minister of National Defence)

Liberal

Hon. BROOKE CLANTON (Minister of National Defence):

Mr. Speaker, if the house will permit I should like to make a statement with respect to the veterans guard.

.

Another stage has been reached in the demobilization of Canada's armed forces. We have already said good-bye to such fine wartime organizations as the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service, the Canadian Women's Army Corps and the Women's Division of the Royal Canadian Air Force, better known with affectionate respect as the WREN's, the CWAC's and the W.D.'s. Now it is with feelings of pride that I call the attention of this house to the work of that splendid body of men, the veterans guard of Canada, due for disbandment today.

The veterans guard was authorized during the dark days of May 1940 to give the veterans of the war of 1914-1918 their chance to serve in the defence of the home front. They stood on guard for Canada in the front line trenches of 1914-1918 and in the second world war they stood on guard for Canada on the frontiers of their native land.

Amongst the tasks which their country asked them to undertake during the recent war was the protection of many lonely but important places on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and many vital and vulnerable points in Canada where sabotage or any form of enemy attack might have been a national calamity. These men, too, willingly undertook one of the most wearing, tiring and thankless of all tasks with the firm discipline which they themselves had learned as Canadian soldiers, and, with the tact and humanity which they had learned as Canadian citizens, they guarded the enemy prisoners of war and escorted them back to Europe when the war was over.

In October 1941 the first members of the corps proceeded overseas for duty at Canadian military headquarters, in London, and other companies soon followed. A special detachment was sent to Newfoundland early in 1942 and companies were sent to the West Indies and British Guiana.

In the ranks of the veterans guard were men who had gallantly led their comrades into successful action in the great war of 1914-1918. Their ranks were decorated with the ribbons of two Victoria Crosses, 65 Military Crosses and bars, more than 75 Distinguished Conduct Medals and over 300 Military Medals.

At the peak strength in August 1945, nearly

9,000 veterans were serving in the veterans guard. Some of these men spent ten of the last thirty years serving their country in two world wars. Those thirty years should under happier circumstances have been the happiest and most productive of their lives, dedicated to peaceful tasks and the joys of family union. The fact that ten out of thirty years should have been spent in this way is a challenge

Veterans Guard of Canada

not only to us but to the whole world of men to work with each other and with all nations, in order that such devotion and unselfish service can hereafter be dedicated, not to the harassing duties of war but to the advancement of national, international and human welfare.

On behalf of the Canadian people, I extend to the Veterans Guard of Canada heartfelt thanks for a good job well done, and a grateful farewell.

With regard to the demobilization of the remaining men in the three services who enlisted for the duration of the war or for interim service, a relatively small number are being retained, with their consent, until the end of September of this year to assist in putting the armed forces on a post-war basis. As this phase is completed, the men so serving will be progressively reduced and all will be out of uniform by September 30, 1947. This is the date by which every man who joined up for the duration of the war will have returned to civilian employment or enlisted in the post-war active forces.

This termination date will be marked by appropriate ceremonies, particularly to recognize the part played by Canada's reserve forces in our total war effort and to emphasize the great part that the naval reserve divisions, the Canadian army reserve force and the air force auxiliary squadrons can, and we trust, will, play in the post-war forces which should the need arise again will be available to serve our country. Every fit young man too young to serve in war should join one of Canada's citizen services. The reserve forces are proceeding with their organization and their essential place in Canada's national life in peace and war calls for strong support in every community.

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PC

George Randolph Pearkes

Progressive Conservative

Mr. G. R. PEARKES (Nanaimo):

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add just one word, if I may, to the remarks which have been made by the Minister of National Defence, because I had a large number of these old soldiers serving under me.

In the minister's statement three words stood out. The first was thanks, the second was farewell, and the third was challenge. Thanks and farewell are not enough for these old soldiers who have given up so much of their time to the service of this country. The challenge-

Topic:   VETERANS GUARD OF CANADA
Subtopic:   DISBANDMENT-EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS ON BEHALF OF CANADIAN PEOPLE
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?

Some hon. MEMBERS:

Order.

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PC

George Randolph Pearkes

Progressive Conservative

Mr. PEARKES:

-is to this government fo provide some sort of employment for these old soldiers and to make some sort of provision for them so that they may be

reestablished in civilian life. Under the present regulations they are trying to get certain benefits-

Topic:   VETERANS GUARD OF CANADA
Subtopic:   DISBANDMENT-EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS ON BEHALF OF CANADIAN PEOPLE
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?

Some hon. MEMBERS:

Order.

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Leslie Gordon Bell

Mr. COLDWELL:

I think all members

of the house, regardless of party, would like to associate themselves-

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Subtopic:   DISBANDMENT-EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS ON BEHALF OF CANADIAN PEOPLE
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March 31, 1947