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Out of war came the wish for peace and
cooperation...
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Inter-Allied DeclarationSigned in London on 12 June
1941, the Inter-Allied Declaration- "to work together, with other
free peoples, both in war and in peace" -was a first step towards
the establishment of the United Nations. |
UK PM Churchill, US Pres. Roosevelt at
Atlantic Charter. HMS Prince of Wales, 14 Aug 41
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Atlantic CharterOn 14 August 1941, President
Franklin Delano Roosevelt of the United States and Prime Minister
Winston Churchill of the United Kingdom proposed a set of principles
for international collaboration in maintaining peace and security.
The document, signed during a meeting on the ship HMS Prince of
Wales, "somewhere at sea", is known as the Atlantic
Charter. |
Declaration by United NationsOn 1 January 1942,
representatives of 26 Allied nations fighting against the Axis
Powers met in Washington, D.C. to pledge their support for the
Atlantic Charter by signing the "Declaration by United Nations".
This document contained the first official use of the term "United
Nations", which was suggested by President Roosevelt. |
Conf. on Security Organization for Peace in
Post-War World (Dumbarton Oaks). Washington, D.C.. 21 Aug 44 .
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Moscow and Teheran ConferencesIn a declaration
signed in Moscow on 30 October 1943, the Governments of the Soviet
Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and China called for an
early establishment of an international organization to maintain
peace and security. That goal was reaffirmed at the meeting of the
leaders of the United States, the USSR, and the United Kingdom at
Teheran on 1 December 1943. |
Dumbarton Oaks ConferenceThe first blueprint of the
UN was prepared at a conference held at a mansion known as Dumbarton
Oaks in Washington, D.C. During two phases of meetings which ran
from 21 September through 7 October 1944, the United States, the
United Kingdom, the USSR and China agreed on the aims, structure and
functioning of a world organization. |
USSR Prem. Stalin, US Pres. Roosevelt and UK
PM Churchill, Yalta, USSR, 12 Feb 45 (24478
UN/DPI).
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Yalta ConferenceOn 11 February 1945, following
meetings at Yalta, President Roosevelt, Prime Minister Churchill and
Premier Joseph Stalin declared their resolve to establish "a general
international organization to maintain peace and security". |
San Francisco ConferenceOn 25 April 1945, delegates
of 50 nations met in San Francisco for the United Nations Conference
on International Organization. The delegates drew up the 111-article
Charter, which was adopted unanimously on 25 June 1945 in the San
Francisco Opera House. The next day, they signed it in the Herbst
Theatre auditorium of the Veterans War Memorial Building. |
UN Charter close-up; behind, Egypt signs. San
Francisco, 26 Jun 45 (24479 UN/DPI).
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24 October 1945United Nations is created as its
Charter is ratified by the five permanent members of the Security
Council and the majority of other signatories, and comes into
force. |
10 January 1946First General Assembly, with 51
nations represented opens in Central Hall, Westminster, London. |
UK PM Atlee addresses GA1 opening, London, 10
Jan 46 (24480 UN/DPI).
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17 January 1946Security Council meets for the first
time in London, adopting its rules of procedure. |
24 January 1946General Assembly adopts its first
resolution. Its main focus: peaceful uses of atomic energy and the
elimination of atomic and other weapons of mass destruction. |
First Security Council meeting, London, 17 Jan
46 (24481 UN/DPI/M. Bolomey).
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1 February 1946Trygve Lie of Norway becomes first
Secretary-General. |
24 October 1947"United Nations Day" officially
designated by the General Assembly. |
SG Trygvie Lie, Norway, elected 1 Feb. 1946,
Lake Success, New York, Aug 49 (22731 UN/DPI).
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June 1948First UN observer mission established in
Palestine -the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO). |
10 December 1948General Assembly adopts Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. |
Mrs. Roosevelt holds a Declaration of Human
Rights poster, Lake Success, New York, Nov 49 (23783
UN/DPI).
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7 January 1949A UN envoy, Ralph Bunche, secures
cease-fire between the new State of Israel and Arab States. |
24 October 1949Cornerstone laid for present UN
Headquarters in New York City. |
SG Lie and Chief Architect W. Harrison seal
cornerstone, New York, 24 Dec 49 (23397 UN/DPI).
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