Letter from Francis T. Cremins to Joseph P. Walshe (Dublin)
(263/5)

With reference to previous minutes regarding the San Francisco Conference, I have to forward herewith a further article from the 'Journal de Genève' of the 27th June, 1945, on the subject of the new Charter. The article is by M. René Payot. He takes the common view that the right of veto is a weak point in the new institution, but he seems to think that the organisation can be improved if it is vigorously sustained by public opinion in all countries.

In my view, it will be very difficult to improve the new institution, if by improvement is meant a surrender of any rights retained by a Member under the Charter as now drawn. That is a lesson that can at any rate be learned from the experience of the S.d.N.¹ When, in the course of some months, or in a year or so, the interests of the Big Five, or the Big Three, become clarified, that is, when it becomes clear what their satisfactions and dissatisfactions are, what their aims or ambitions are, and to what extent the latter are likely to run contrary to the interests of other States, especially of other Great Powers, then it will be easier to judge whether or not the new League, with the right of veto, is likely to be a safeguard of world peace. Apart from the victors, it will not of course be possible, in the course of years, to leave out of account the vanquished States with large populations, as they will always be a factor to be reckoned with, especially if unfortunately it should turn out that future war is possible. I do not think that any Power, Great or otherwise, desires further war, but some Great Powers have the unfortunate habit of so safeguarding their present position or future possible expansion that they encroach upon or even appear to menace the security of other States. If the statesmen of Great Powers could be prevailed upon to see that the inevitable result of this has always been, and remains, conflict, they might restrain their ardour and so arrange things at the Peace Conference that no serious grievance will exist, apart of course from the grievances of the States that have been overrun and vanquished. It is unfortunate that the general view of the future appears pessimistic. That in itself is a danger, for it means distrust of somebody. If the statesmen of the Great Powers realise this danger to their own peoples, they will refrain from making encroachments on each other's interests.

[matter omitted]