FROM 50 YEARS AGO “Recent events have demonstrated with start-neither colonialism nor the suppression of the ling clarity that”, they warn the world, “strong weak by the strong powers is a thing of the nations can still commit aggression on weaker past. To maintain peace, the United Nations countries and attempt to impose their will upon were formed. One of the main functions of them, resulting in bitter conflict and human the United Nations is to eliminate the sources suffering”. It was too hastily assumed that of world conflict. To preserve world peace, nuclear weapons had succeeded, where the the United Nations must have both moral and
Vol VIII, No 46, November 17, 1956
United Nations had failed, in preventing a military authority. It has been one of the flaws
third world war. Events in Egypt may still of the United Nations that more timeBandung Way to Peace be cited by some in support of the old theory and energy have been wasted in espousing the (Editorial) of world balance of power. But many principle of collective security. Since the “cold
will deplore the development in Egypt as a war”, regional military alliances and pacts have
It would be idle to pretend that the approach sequel to regional military alliances and the undermined the basis of collective security. of four of the five Colombo Powers to the consequent undermining of the authority of In the present state of the world, the principle situation in Hungary and in Egypt is not the United Nations. of collective security cannot be abandoned. different. But this is not the central theme of Two problems arise out of the recent alarm-But its implementation in Korea has disclosed the joint statement issued by the Prime Mini-ing developments in Egypt and Hungary. Can that the principle can be exploited by some sters of India, Indonesia, Burma and Ceylon. the United Nations tolerate, or allow, ugly Big Powers. For the first time, the United Their main emphasis is on the imperative need demonstrations by Big Powers, that might is Nations have created an international force for “to support and strengthen the UN in its task right? This theory of international relation-operation in Egypt, which is truly international. of preserving peace”. Thinking persons ship has been discarded long ago. Colonial-There are many who are convinced that without throughout the world will echo their concern ism has been equally denounced. But, recent the authority of decisive military sanction, the over the aggressive designs of Big Powers. world events are poignant reminders that United Nations must remain ineffective.
Economic and Political Weekly November 18, 2006
