{The United Nations}[7th February 1970]

[Redbook1:119-122][19700207:1100]{The United Nations}[7th February 1970]

Saturday 7th February 1970  11 a.m.

            I would like the United Nations strengthened so that it could interfere in situations like the Middle East.  However, there would have to be safeguards to prevent abuse of this strength.  On the other hand, the safeguards must be speedy -- not delaying.

            The Security Council as it exists now should be increased by adding China and (possibly) Japan.  West Germany could be considered also; but China is very important.

            A new intermediate council or court should be formed consisting of the Security Council (including, of course, the so-called " Big Four”), the three possible members above, and a member from: Africa, South America, Australasia, Canada, India, W.Europe, Eastern Europe?,  South East Asia, the Arab states, and similar groupings -- possibly with a member for all the tiny states not otherwise represented.

            The Assembly proper would remain basically as it is, but states would have voting power according to a U.N. estimate of their approximate population.  The Intermediate Court would have one vote per representative, but the grouping would tend to reflect economic, and hence political, power.  The Security Council would still operate on one vote per country.

            The Intermediate Council [sic] would have the duty of deciding when a situation was worthy of U.N. interference.  Its positive decisions would only be effective with a 75% majority.  It would sit fairly permanently, and it could hear evidence like any normal court.  It would also arbitrate after U.N. action.

            Once the Intermediate Court had decided that a situation was a crisis, the General Assembly would vote on whether to interfere or not.  The voting would be by population, as outlined above (but see below); again, a large (say 75%) majority would be needed for positive change of action (i.e. from doing nothing to doing something).

            The decision would then have to be ratified by all members of the Security Council; and if they can all agree, then the situation must be really desperate.

            The U.N. forces would then break up the crisis and halt everything until the Intermediate Court had arbitrated.  They would then enforce the arbitration (with the Security Council's full agreement?) if it was not kept to.  This procedure is fairly simple for external matters e.g. wars; for internal matters, e.g. coups d’etat, the situation is more tricky.  One would like to see the U.N. establish a democracy wherever a coup d’etat occurs; however, this is unlikely to be agreed to by many countries, including members of the Security Council.  An unsuccessful coup d’etat resulting in prolonged civil war warrants interference, under the above conditions; but there is very little one can do about a successful one, unless democracy becomes much more fashionable.

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