United Nations
In 1945, Vandenberg was appointed to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco on finalizing the United Nations Charter. Vandenberg served on the Regional Security Committee, where he fought to protect American interests, fearing that regional security would be in jeopardy because of the Soviet’s guaranteed veto power.
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The grave problem is to find a formula which will reasonably protect legitimate regional arrangements without destroying the over-all responsibility of united action through the Peace League and without inviting the formation of a lot of dangerous new ‘regional spheres of influence’ etc…. I was able to make a suggestion which seems to answer our needs without exposing the League to other hazards. |
After two weeks of negotiation, the committee emerged with Article 51 of the UN Charter, largely written by Vandenberg.
I am deeply impressed by what has happened…. At the outset many of the Nations were far, very far, apart. Our own delegation was not wholly united. The subject was difficult… by hammering it out vis-a-vis, we have found an answer which satisfies practically everybody. |
Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by Members in the exercise of this right of self-defense shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security. |
"World Charter Signed," National Archives.
The final charter was approved by a 89 to 2 vote in the Senate.
I must confess, now that it’s all over, that I am very proud to have been one of its fathers. It has stood up amazingly under every possible scrutiny. The things we did at Frisco to remove potential Senate opposition have paid rich dividends. |
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