Peace - an end, a goal? Everyone desires blessings that can be experienced only from inner peace; a state of mind, body and perhaps soul in tranquility, inner contentment . People that experience inner peace say that the feeling is not dependent on time, people or any external object or situation; that it is possible to experience inner peace even in the midst of war. Peace, elusive, yes, yet achievable because people who believe we have been endowed the ability, the power to put our mind in a state of restfulness, harmony, balance, contentment, freedom and fulfillment, in such a way that the mind overcomes, banishes, demolishes and replaces everything that opposes all the positive concepts we put our mind into.(Source: http://www.answers.com.topic/peace.)
From time immemorial people search for peace, to co- exist with one another in harmonious relations, in an environment free from quarrels and disagreements, everyone wants to live in a world at peace, indeed, everyone’s inalienable right. In early 1945 following the end of World War II, fifty nations, with the four sponsors, Great Britain, United States, China, and the Soviet Union were originally invited to the San Francisco Conference; all subscribed to the United Nations Declaration one of the original signatories, Poland did not attend, because the composition of her government was not announced until too late for the conference, therefore, a space was left for the signature of Poland.. The respective delegates gathered at the City of Golden Gate in San Francisco, in the United States of America. With representatives of over eighty percent of the world’s population, people of every race, religion and continent, all determined to set up an organization which would preserve peace and help build a better world, made up a conglomeration of 6000 in all, the San Francisco Conference was not only one of the most important conferences in history, but, perhaps the largest international gathering ever to take place. The hope of forming a body designed to end war and promote peace; inspired every participating nation determined to resolve many vital issues; The Conference formed a “Steering Committee, composed of the heads of all delegations; it decided all matters of major principle and policy. At even one member per state, the committee was fifty strong, too large for detailed work; therefore, commissions were created, sub divided into 12 technical committees. Although it sounds over-elaborate, it actually was the speediest way of ensuring the fullest discussion and securing the last ounce of agreement possible, they had to produce a Charter acceptable to all the countries. There were many serious clashes of opinion, divergence of outlook, even a crisis or two, which some observers feared that the conference might adjourn without agreement. There were considerable debates within the many committees, sub-committee on jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, of the Security Council. No problem was ever too great that wasn’t overcome and resolved in the interest of setting up of a world body in the interest of peace.
Thus after four long years preceded by ten plenary meetings of all the delegates, nearly 400 meetings of the committees, at which every line and comma was hammered out; it was more than words and phrases of course, that have to be decided upon, members from forty five participating nations got through its monumental task to set up if not the perfect international organization at least the best that could possibly be made. It was in the Opera House at San Francisco on June25 the delegates met in full session for the last meeting, Lord Halifax of Great Britain put the final draft of the Charter to the meeting and declared; “This issue upon which we are about to vote is as important as any we shall ever vote in our lifetime.” In view of the world importance of the occasion, it was deemed appropriate to depart from the customary method of voting by a show of hands. Instead every delegates rose and remained standing, so did some 3000 visitors to an ovation as the Chairman announced that the Charter had been passed unanimously.
The United Nations did not come into existence at the signing of the Charter.
In many countries the Charter had to be approved by the respective congresses or parliaments. It was provided that the Charter would come into force when the Governments of the “Big Five” China, France, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States and a majority of the other signatory states had ratified the Charter and deposited notification to that effect with the State Department of the United States. On October 24,1945, this condition was fulfilled, the date marks the birth of the United Nations, a world body with its Charter signed in the City of Golden Gate, San Francisco, in the United States of America. There were forty five original signatories. To China, first victim of aggression by an Axis power fell the honor of signing first. Four years of planning and the hope of many years materialized in an international organization designed to end war and promote peace, justice and better living for all mankind.
In addressing United Nations at its final session, the then President Truman of the United States of America , echoed: “The Charter of the United Nations which you have just signed ,is a solid structure upon which we build a better world.” “…With this Charter the world can begin to look forward to the time when all worthy human beings may be permitted to live decently as free people.”
(Source: Guide to the Charter (UNST DP(02 G81; http://www.un.org/aboutun/sanfrancisco/history.html)
Sadly 63 years here on, kind hearted, well meaning countries of the world find complete peace elusive. Perhaps during moments when it seems all else failed remember the assurance from He who is all Mighty who said: “Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid; Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I, unto you. (Source: King James ver. p90 John 14;27)