When the Charter of the United Nations was being written and put into effect, the feature that was most emphasized by its supporters was the provision for the use of collective forces to keep the peace. It was the failure of this particular feature of the Charter system to become effective which was mainly responsible for the subsequent decline of confidence in the UN as a peace organization. For a time, hopes were rekindled by the role of the United Nations in meeting aggression in Korea. Recent events in the Middle East, particularly the establishment of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), have revived interest in the possibility of strengthening the UN as an organization to maintain international peace and security.Because of the hopes aroused as well as the results achieved, it is important to analyze objectively what UNEF is, what its role has been, and to what it may lead.

On October 31, 1956, two days after the armed forces of Israel struck across the Israeli-Egytian Armistice line deep into the Sinai peninsula, and the day following the Anglo-French ultimatum to Egypt, Dag Hammarskjold, the United Nations Secretary-General, asked for the floor in the Security Council meeting. “Yesterday morning”, he said, “on the basis of the information then available— I would have used my right to call for an immediate meeting of the Security Council, had not the United States Government in the course of the night taken the initiative.

The gods had condemned Sisyphus to push a rock up the top of a mountain, from which the rock kept rolling down. International organization seems to be a modern illustration of an old myth. After each crisis, new attempts are made to push the rock of peace up again, and no crisis has revealed the frustrating task of international organization more sharply than the recent shock of the Middle Eastern and Hungarian explosions.

The double crisis we witnessed last autumn dates back to six months ago, yet it may already be possible to outline a schematic picture of its repercussions on the international organizations in Europe. I shall describe neither the structures of these organizations nor the way they work, but, rather, the political context, which alone permits us to evaluate their potential for action and influence on the European scene. This paper will therefore deal first with the immediate consequences of the Budapest massacres and with the unsuccessful enterprise of the Anglo-French forces in Suez. It will then try to evaluate the present political motivations of the French, British, and German policies, and this will lead to an examination of the political decay of both NATO in Europe and the Western European Union. A cursory glance at what is usually called the European parliaments—already in existence or in the process of being created—will lead us to conclusions in which the Algerian question and the question of German reunification will figure more predominantly than international organizations whose juridical future seems more certain than their political effectiveness.

A new kind of “DP” plagued the conscience of the west after the Displaced Person of World War II had become an historical phenomenon. It was the “Disinherited Person”, the national of overcrowded western Europe who was surplus to the economy in which he lived but who, with international planning and assistance, might become a “plus” person in less densely settled areas overseas. In an effort to alleviate this problem of over-population in western Europe a new agency, the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM), was created and began operations on February I, 1952. Since that time, more than 570,000 Europeans who needed assistance in migrating have been moved to new homelands by the 27-nation ICEM, representing 36 percent of the total emigration from the main European emigration countries (Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands). Apart from numbers moved directly, the Committee's efforts have stimulated spontaneous emigration by opening or widening new areas of resettlement.

Seventh United Nations Technical Assistance Conference: At the Seventh UN Technical Assistance Conference, which met at Headquarters on October 17, 1956, under the presidency of Sir Leslie Munro (New Zealand), 63 governments pledged $14,940,000; this sum excluded the amount to be pledged by the United States. Several participating countries, including the Federal Republic of Germany, Indonesia and El Salvador, were unable to announce their contributions at the Conference as negotiations had not been completed

At the request of the United States, the Council met on April 26 to resume consideration of the Suez question. The Council had before it an Egyptian declaration on the Suez Canal and the arrangements for its operation, dated April 24, in which the government of Egypt announced that the Canal was again open for normal traffic. The declaration on arrangements for its operation comprised the following ten points: 1) The terms and the spirit of the Constantinople Convention of 1888 were reaffirmed, the Egyptian government declaring its intention to respect, observe and implement them; 2) While reaffirming its determination to respect the terms and spirit of the 1888 Convention and to abide by the Charter and the principles and purposes of the UN, the government of Egypt was confident that the other signatories of the said Convention and all others concerned would be guided by the same resolve; 3) The government of Egypt was more particularly determined a) to afford and maintain free and uninterrupted navigation for all nations within the limits of and in accordance with the provisions of the 1888 Convention; b) that tolls should continue to be levied in accordance with the last agreement, concluded on April 28, 1956, between Egypt and the Suez Canal Maritime Company, and that any increase in the current rate of tolls within any twelve months, if it took place, should be limited to 1 percent, any increase beyond that level to be the result of negotiations, and, failing agreement, to be settled by arbitration according to the procedure set forth in paragraph 7(b) of the declaration; and c) that the Canal would be maintained and developed in accordance with the progressive requirements of modern navigation and that such maintenance and development should include the eighth and ninth programs of the Suez Canal Maritime Company, with such improvements to them as were considered necessary

Economic Commission for Europe: The Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) held its twelfth (tenth anniversary) session in Geneva from April 29 to May 15, 1957 under the chairmanship of Dr. Oskar Lange. In addition to governmental representatives, the following intergovernmental or non-governmental organizations participated: the International Labor Organization(ILO), the International Monetary Fund, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Gunnar Myrdal, whose resignation was announced April 1, 1957, and who was to be succeeded by Mr. Sakari S. Tuomioja of Finland, gave the opening speech in which he voiced concern over the political split in Europe, urging, however, that there still existed a broad opportunity for constructive efforts toward international cooperation.

The nineteenth session of the Trusteeship Council was held at UN Headquarters from March 14 to May 15, 1957, with Mr. Asha (Syria) acting as president. The Council adopted an agenda of fifteen items, and devoted the greater part of the session to examination of the annual reports on the administration of the trust territories of Ruanda-Urundi, the Cameroons under United Kingdom administration, the Cameroons under French administration, and Togoland under French administration. The Council dealt with several matters referred to it by the General Assembly, and before concluding the session it took action on petitions relating to trust territories.

The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development made two loans during the period under review. On May 15, 1957, in participation with other investors, it made a loan equivalent to $15 million to the Finance Corporation for National Reconstruction (Herstelbank) of the Netherlands. The loan was to provide the Herstelbank with additional capital for lending to enterprises for industry, transport and commerce. The total amount of participation in the loan by other investors was $5 million, representing portions of all six maturities, which were to fall due from November 1959 through May 1962. The loan was for a term of five years and bore interest of 5⅝ percent, including the Bank's 1 percent commission.

The 30th session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council was held in Montreal between January 28 and April 18, 1957. The Council unanimously elected Mr. Walter Binaghi (Argentina) as its president, for the remaining two years of the Council's term.

The annual report of the Director-General (Morse) of the International Labor Organization (ILO) to the 40th session of the ILO Conference dealt primarily with the labor and social implications of automation.

During February 1957 the government of Egypt purchased from the International Monetary Fund $15 million with Egyptian pounds. The government of India, during the same period, entered into an exchange transaction and stand-by arrangement with the Fund in a total amount of $200 million. The transaction provided for the purchase of $127.5 million from the Fund with Indian rupees. The Fund was to transfer $60 million of that amount immediately, and $67.5 million after 30 days. A stand-by arrangement to become effective on the date of the second transfer was to permit India to purchase from the Fund during the following twelve months currencies equivalent to an additional $72.5 million. Under the stand-by arrangement concluded in October 1956, France had by the middle of March made two purchases from the Fund with French francs. The first purchase, of $40 million, was made on February 14, and the second, of $60 million, was made on March 14. In April 1957, the government of Argentina purchased from the Fund $75 million with Argentine pesos. Other purchases from the Fund during the period under review included $10 million by Cuba (under a stand-by arrangement), $2.5 million by Honduras, and $0.5 million by Paraguay. In February El Salvador repurchased colones equivalent to $2.5 million; other repurchases were $3.3 million by Finland and $1.8 million by Denmark. At the request of the government of Peru, the Fund on February 15 extended for one year a stand-by arrangement enabling Peru to draw currencies up to the equivalent of $12.5 million.

The eighth plenary assembly of the International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR) was held in Warsaw from August 9 to September 13, 1956, under the chairmanship of Professor Pawel Szulkin (Poland). The assembly elected with an absolute majority Dr. E. Metzler (Switzerland) as Director. The assembly considered a report which dealt with the activities of the fourteen established study groups as well as proposals to reorganize the study groups. The Warsaw decisions modifying procedures experimentally for the future were the outcome of proposals by the Organization and Finance Committees, the CCIR Secretariat and of discussions of the problem in the plenary assembly. The study groups were to remain the same in number and the allocation of work was in general the same, though it was felt desirable to give a more precise definition of their terms of reference. Among the resolutions adopted by the assembly, a number dealt with the length, content and quantity of documents submitted to the chairmen of the study groups, emphasizing that these should be as short as possible, as few as possible and that they should contain only the minimum indispensable mathematical formulae or numerical and experimental data. The new system was also expected to improve the position of distant countries which had so far experienced great difficulty in receiving preliminary documentation in sufficient time before plenary assemblies. The Technical Assistance Committee recommended the creation of a joint CCIR-International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT) committee to consider the ways and means whereby technical assistance was at present granted and to make suggestions for improvements, as far as telecommunication was concerned, to the ITU Administrative Council.

Forty-sixth session: The 46th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Executive Board was held at New Delhi on December 6, 1956, under the chairmanship of Dr. Vittorino Veronese (Italy). The Board established a special committee to consider draft comments for presentation to the Trusteeship Council of the United Nations at the latter's meeting on March 11, 1957; it also established a working party to prepare a plan to which member states would be requested to conform in drawing up their reports on “developments and the progress achieved in the field of human rights”. Other recommendations dealt with long-term proposals for the future conduct of the UNESCO Institutes in the Federal Republic of Germany and relations with the preparatory commission of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The annual report of the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the year 1956 was a comprehensive account of the year's accomplishments, in which particular emphasis was laid on the eradication of certain communicable diseases, especially malaria, on WHO's role in the development of national health services and on the effect of the research stimulated, promoted or coordinated by WHO on the national health administrations. The report also referred to the responsibility of WHO in a new field of public health—the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

The second session of Regional Association I (Africa) of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) opened at Las Palmas, Canary Islands, on January 21, 1957, under the presidency of Mr. Jacques Ravet. Twenty members, out of a total membership of 22, were represented by delegates. In addition, four WMO members from outside the region, one non-member territory and two international organizations sent observers who took an active part in the meeting. Two working committees were set up, one to deal with codes, telecommunications and maritime meteorology, and one to study observational networks, climatology and related matters, and arid zone problems. The various parts of the international codes subject to regional agreement were revised; the existing system of meteorological telecommunications in the region was revised in the light of the recommendations of a working group; and the networks of stations making surface and upper-air observations were examined in detail. The need for more upper-air observations from oceanic regions was stressed, and for the first time a regional network of ground radar weather observing stations was laid down. Among other items dealt with at the session were climatological practices and the preparation of a climatic atlas for Africa, and the promotion of hydrometeorological and agrometeorological activities within the region. A working group was set up to ensure better coordination of research work on the hydrometeorological problems of the arid zones within the region. The association decided that in its future program, first priority should be given to the implementation of the recommended observing networks and of the decisions concerning telecommunications.

The Council of the ANZUS Pacific Security Pact met in Washington on November 17, 1956. The three member governments were represented by their foreign ministers: Mr. Hoover (Acting Secretary of State) for the United States, Mr. Casey for Australia, and Mr. Macdonald for New Zealand. The ministers reviewed the work done under the aegis of ANZUS since the Council had last met, in September 1955, and noted that, in addition to meetings of the ANZUS Military Representatives and Staff Planners, agreements with the United States had been signed by both Australia and New Zealand for cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic energy. The ministers expressed the conviction that the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization had contributed substantially over the preceding year to the welfare and security of Southeast Asia.

According to press reports, representatives of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Jordan signed an Arab solidarity agreement in Cairo on January 19, 1957. The agreement was intended to provide Jordan with the equivalent of $36,000,000 to be devoted to the Jordanian Hashemite armed forces, including the national guard forces. The agreement was to come into force from the date of the exchange of the instruments of ratification, which, according to the press, was to occur some time in April. The agreement also stipulated that the share of each state participating in the Arab obligations was to be paid in two equal installments; the agreement was intended to replace the discontinued United Kingdom grants to Jordan, and the government of Jordan was to purchase all requirements of the armed forces, when equipment became available, in the countries of the contracting parties, the cost of these purchases being deducted from the aid allocations. Part of the allocations were to be in hard currency. According to a statement issued in Cairo, the Arab heads of state also agreed, in reference to the “Eisenhower doctrine”, to reject the “vacuum theory, and decided that Arab nationalism was the sole basis on which Arab policy could be formulated”. The statement also said that occupation of any part of Egyptian territory, including the Gaza Strip, would be regarded as a “continuation of the tripartite Anglo-French-Israel aggression against Egypt”. Press reports further stated that a supplementary report, referring to proposals for placing the Gaza Strip under UN administration, and upholding the Egyptian government's viewpoint, held that any attempt to change the form of rule in Gaza would be interpreted as an unacceptable continuation of the aggression.

The Council of the Baghdad Pact held its annual meeting in Karachi from June 3 through 6, 1957. Representatives were present from the five member countries—Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and the United Kingdom—and the United States was represented by an observer delegation. The Council had been scheduled to meet months earlier, but Iraq originally refused to meet with the United Kingdom. At the opening session, presided over by Mr. Suhrawardy, Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Prime Minister of Iraq, Nuri es Said, was reported to have spoken forcefully about the dangers implicit in the problems of Israel, Algeria, Kashmir and Cyprus. Mr. Lloyd, Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom, was reported to have followed Mr. Nuri es Said's remarks with a speech in which he announced his government's offer of a contribution of £500,000 a year in cash and in kind for building up the minimum military infra-structure in member countries. The speeches of other delegates were reported to be noteworthy for their frank recognition of past weaknesses in the Baghdad Pact organization and the need to give it new effectiveness. In the course of the first session the United States formally accepted an invitation to join the Pact's Military Committee; and a United States military delegation headed by General Nathan F. Twining started participating in a separate concurrent meeting of the Military Committee. The United States thus became a member of the Pact's three main committees, but had still not become a formal member of the Pact.