The United Nations World Security Organization came into being when the Soviet Government in mid-afternoon deposited its instrument of ratification, the twenty-ninth necessary to bring this about, and James F. Byrnes, Secretary of State, then signed the protocol at 4:50 o'clock, Eastern standard time, formally attesting that the Charter of the United Nations has come into force.
In signing the protocol Mr. Byrnes said the Charter was now a "part of the law of nations" and that it was "a memorable day for the peace-loving peoples of all nations." But he warned that peace depended upon the will of the peoples for peace rather than upon documents.
The ceremony of signing took place in the reception room of the Secretary of State before press, radio and picture representatives, but without foreign diplomats being present, because of inadequate time to notify them after the Soviet Government had acted. William Benton, assistant secretary, and Archibald MacLeish, former assistant secretary, were present along with a few subordinate officials of the department.
It took only two minutes, Mr. Byrnes reading a brief statement, and then using two pens to sign the protocol.
He will give one of the pens to Cordell Hull, whom the late President Roosevelt termed "the father of the United Nations." He may keep the other pen himself, or possibly give it to President Truman, he said, if he couldn't talk the President out of it.
Under the terms of the charter the five big powers and a majority of the smaller countries, or 29 out of a total of 51, had to deposit their ratifications for the charter to become effective.
Great Britain took this action on Saturday and Egypt followed on Monday, but four more were still necessary. Poland brought her instrument to the Department this morning. A few minutes after 3 o'clock this afternoon Fedor T. Orekhov, first secretary of the Soviet Embassy, brought the instruments of ratification of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and, as the 29th ratification, the instrument of the U.S.S.R.
He took all three to the Hill building, an adjunct of the State Department at 17th and I Streets, N.W., two blocks from the main building of the department, and gave them, as required, to the Department's Division of Treaties.
While the Russian action was regarded as a happy augury at a time when relations with the Soviet are clouded and she is still holding back from attending the forthcoming meeting of the Far Eastern Advisory Commission, Secretary Byrnes referred only to the broader significance of the event in his remarks before he affixed his signature to the protocol, and again pledged the United States to cooperation for peace.
Byrnes Hails "Memorable Day"
"The United Nations Charter is now a part of the law of nations," said Mr. Byrnes. "This is a memorable day for the peace-loving peoples of all nations.
"As I have frequently said, the maintenance of peace depends not upon any document, but upon what is in the minds and hearts of men. But the peoples of this earth who yearn for peace must be organized to maintain the peace. This charter provides the organization."
Edward R. Stettinius Jr., former Secretary of State, who piloted the Charter first at Dumbarton Oaks and then at San Francisco and is now our representative with the United Nations, expressed his delight in a statement sent here, and added:
"I am sure the American people share with me a strong sense of the significance of this occasion and are prepared to give their full support to the United Nations to the end that our common aim of building a new and better world shall be attained."
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/1024.html#article
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