Date of Award
1952
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts in History
Department
History
First Advisor
Daniel H. Thomas
Abstract
The purpose of this inquiry has been to subject to a critical analysis the American policy of collective security as expressed in the Korean action, in order to determine how that policy has been expressed in a significant international issue. The writer has approached the problem as a citizen of world community composed of national states pledged to the task of managing that community for the common good.
It has been the writer's aim to present a study of the developing policy of the United States in regard to collective security within the framework of current international developments. An extensive study of the official records of the United Nations has been made in order to locate primary material which might serve as the basis for historical evaluation. The main body of the thesis has been developed from those records. Portions of the speeches of the delegates or summaries of them which preserve as much of the flavor of the delegates' statements as possible are frequently cited.
In addition to the official records of the United Nations, the records of the San Francisco Conference have been examined at length in order to ascertain the intentions of the signatories to the United Nations Charter and to serve as a guide interpreting the Charter. Significant expressions of American policy have been cited from the San Francisco Conference, from questions considered before the Security Council prior to the Korean action, and from the evolution of the American position with respect to Korea. The major elements of positions held by other states have been included where necessary, in order to examine the American position within the overall context of the particular issue in question.
The results or the study seem to indicate some major developments in the American policy of collective security through the United Nations. First, the United States no longer places the degree of trust in the unanimity principle which it held in San Francisco. The study of the development of American policy in the United Nations prior to the outbreak of hostilities indicated a persistent movement by the United States away from the position it had held at San Francisco.
Second, the Korean action marked the complete break-down of great power unity as the sole means of supplying effective collective measures with which to implement a policy of collective security. The United States and other members of the United Nations were forced to develop improvisations in order to cope with the Korean problem.
Third, consideration of the Korean problem has led to the development of a new interpretation of the Ohartiar as witnessed in the "Uniting for Peace" resolution. For the first time, the United States has been willing to allow the General Assembly to participate, if necessary, in recommendations for enforcement measures.
Last, the United States has demonstrated that it views its national interests as vitally affected by the welfare of the United Nations.
Recommended Citation
Leighton, Frank Ohler, "The American Policy of Collective Security Through The United Nations as Expressed in the Korean Action" (1952). Open Access Master's Theses. Paper 1803.
https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/theses/1803
Terms of Use
All rights reserved under copyright.
Comments
The purpose of this inquiry has been to subject to a critical analysis the American policy of collective security as expressed in the Korean action, in order to determine how that policy has been expressed in a significant international issue. The writer has approached the problem as a citizen of world community composed of national states pledged to the task of managing that community for the common good.
It has been the writer's aim to present a study of the developing policy of the United States in regard to collective security within the framework of current international developments . An extensive study of the official records of the United Nations has been made in order to locate primary material which might serve as the basis for historical evaluation. The main body of the thesis has been developed from those records. Portions of the speeches of the delegates or summaries of them which preserve as much of the flavor of the delegates' statements as possible are frequently cited.
In addition to the official records of the United Nations, the records of the San Francisco Conference have bean examined at length in order to ascertain the intentions of the signatories to the United Nations Charter and to serve as a guide interpreting the Charter. Significant expressions of American policy have been cited from the San Francisco Conference, from questions considered before the Security Council prior to the Korean action, and from the evolution of the American position with respect to Korea. The major elements of positions held by other states have been included where necessary, in order to examine the American position within the overall context of the particular issue in question.
The results or the study seem to indicate some major developments in the American policy of collective security through the United Nations. First, the United States no longer places the degree of trust in the unanimity principle which it held in San Francisco. The study of the development of American policy in the United Nations prior to the outbreak of hostilities indicated a persistent movement by the United States away from the position it had held at San Francisco.
Second, the Korean action marked the complete break-down of great power unity as the sole means of supplying effective collective measures with which to implement a policy of collective security. The United States and other members of the United Nations were forced to develop improvisations in order to cope with the Korean problem.
Third, consideration of the Korean problem has led to the development of a new interpretation of the Ohartiar as witnessed in the "Uniting for Peace" resolution. For the first time, the United States has been willing to allow the General Assembly to participate, if necessary, in recommendations for enforcement measures.
Last, the United States has demonstrated that it views its national interests as vitally affected by the welfare of the United Nations.