Text of the Speech made by Sir Alexander Cadogan (United Kingdom) in the Security Council Meeting No. 457 held on 17 December, 1949

Text of the Speech made by Sir Alexander Cadogan (United Kingdom) in the Security Council Meeting No. 457 held on 17 December, 1949

In the first place I should like to warmly endorse what has been said by the speaker who preceded me in tribute to the Commission and to its report. It seems to me that the members of the Commission have done a very excellent, conscientious and useful work, of which we may take advantage.

In the second place, on the matter of procedure which has been raised, I should like to support very strongly the suggestion made by the representative of Norway; namely, that the President should forthwith endeavour, in consultation with the parties, to find a way of achieving the agreement which we all seek. It seems to me that that is a practical and efficient way of working. Both the parties and everyone seated at the Council table have complete confidence in the ability and integrity of the President, and I should hope that, if he agrees to take that course, and if the parties, as I am confident they will, also agree to it, it might lead to excellent results.

As the representative of Norway has pointed out, that does not derogate in any way from the powers of the Security Council. It does not remove the matter in any way from its purview; it merely prepares the work for it in the most efficient manner possible. Naturally, every proposal will come back to the Council for submission and find decision. The Council remains the master of the proceedings. But I do think that the procedure that has been proposed by the representative of Norway would conduct best to a satisfactory and, I should hope, a rapid agreement, and if it is agreed that that procedure should be tried it will have, I am. sure, our very best wishes for its success.