AN ACT OF FAITH A REPORT OF THE CORNERSTONE CEREMONY OF THE PERMANENT HEADQUARTERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 24
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 22, 2001
• Sequence Number: 30
• Content Type: REPORT

Apprgffi ~Ve 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
AN ACT
OF FAITH
A report of the Cornerstone Ceremony
of the permanent headquarters of the United Nations
0-2
 Ap 4: CIA-RDP78-04506A000160020 0-2
Ap
 Approved' For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
"AN ACT OF FAITH"
Ceremony at Laying of Cornerstone
The cornerstone of the United
Nations Permanent Headquarters
was laid on October 24, United Na-
tions Day, in a ceremony which
brought into sharp focus both the
progress of the past four years and
the magnitude of the task ahead.
The function took place at an
open air plenary meeting of the
General Assembly on the site of the
Headquarters building at 42nd Street
and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive
in New York City.
There the Delegations of the 59
Member Nations, seated in the fa-
miliar order obtaining at Flushing
Meadows, heard the President of the
United States of America call the
laying of this cornerstone "an act of
faith-our unshakeable faith that
the United Nations will succeed in
accomplishing the great tasks for
which it was created." (The complete
text of President Truman's speech
appears on page 13).
The delegates sat below and facing
a rostrum backed by the blue and
white of a gigantic United Nations
flag. Upon that rostrum sat the
President of the Assembly, General
Carlos P. Romulo of the Philippines,
flanked by the Secretary-General,
Mr. Trygve Lie, and his Executive
Assistant, Mr. Andrew W. Cordier.
Just beneath them was the dais for
the speakers-President Harry S.
Truman, Ambassador Warren R.
Austin, Chairman of the United Na-
tions Headquarters Advisory Com-
mittee and Permanent Representative
of the United States to the United
Nations, Mayor William O'Dwyer,
who spoke for the City of New
York, and Governor Thomas E.
Dewey, of New York State.
Also on the dais with the speakers
were John D. Rockefeller, 3rd, rep-
resenting John D. Rockefeller, Jr.,
whose generosity made it possible to
acquire the site, and the seven Vice-
Presidents of the Assembly-the
heads of the Delegations of Brazil,
China, France, Pakistan, Union of
Socialist Soviet Republics, United
Kingdom and United States.
Stretching back from the Assem-
bly area, up the gentle slope towards
First Avenue and in the adjacent
playground, were massed the seats of
the spectators-guests of the dele-
gates, officials and guests of the City
of New York, members of the
United Nations Secretariat and the
public. In all, seating accommoda-
tion was provided for 10,000, with
500 seats reserved-at the special
request of the Secretary-General-
for workers engaged in the construc-
tion of the great building which
towered, impressive even in its pres-
ent stage, above the scene.
The ceremony had been scheduled
to start at noon and at 12:07 pm
General Romulo called the plenary
meeting of the Assembly to order.
America, said General Romulo,
-1-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 The General Assembly held its first open air meeting on United Nations
Day, Oct. 24, 1949, for a ceremony at which cornerstone of Permanent
Headquarters Building was laid.
had given much to the United Na-
tions. Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
"the greatest American of our time,"
was one of its founding fathers and
his concept of the Four Freedoms
had "defined, in terms of mankind's
need for indivisible unity, the basic
aspirations now embodied in the
Charter of the United Nations."
(For full text of speech, see page 6).
General Romulo recalled that the
United Nations from the outset had
chosen the United States as its per-
manent home and he traced, step by
step, the path which had led to the
cornerstone laying ceremony-the
temporary home at Hunter College,
the offers of other American cities,
the generosity of Mr. John D. Rocke-
feller, Jr., a generosity matched by
that of the City of New York, which
had provided the permanent site.
"Upon recommendation of Presi-
dent Truman," said General Romulo,
"the United States Congress, in one
of the most heartening evidences
of its bipartisan policy in support of
the United Nations, granted a loan
without interest for the construction
of the buildings. The first allocation
of $25,000,000 from that loan was
made available by the Congress in
1948 after agreement between Presi-
dent Truman and Governor Dewey.
Thus did the United States Govern-
ment, by the symbolic act of giving
the United Nations a permanent
home on American soil, yield a bit
of its sovereignty to the world or-
ganization.
"This ground, a part of America,
now belongs to the world. It is
dedicated ground. Upon it will rest
the visible structure of the United
Nations, the instrument by which
humanity hopes to attain peace and
the blessings of peace."
At the conclusion of his opening
address, General Romulo introduced
Ambassador Austin, who said that
the many conferences and consulta-
tions in which he had participated
.-2-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 pproved For-Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506AO00100020030-2
as Chairman of the Headquarters
Advisory Committee now came to
fruition. There were two points, he
said, that might add to an under-
standing of the achievement marked
by the cornerstone ceremony: "First,
that men and women of goodwill
have demonstrated their interest in
the United Nations by very sub-
stantial acts of generosity. Second,
that this home-building enterprise
has been carried out by remarkable
unanimity among the Members of
the United Nations." (Full text on
page 8).
The "magnificent benevolence" of
Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., had
decided the "emotional controversy"
over general location and specified
the site for the headquarters. And
Mayor O'Dwyer, the Citizens Com-
mittee and the officials of the City
of New York, acting "promptly,
generously and with vision," had
provided $20,000,000 to build the
approaches and a $2,000,000 grant
to start the work. They had in
every way facilitated the headquar-
ters agreement, even to the extent
of waiving taxes.
"A board of design composed of
12 celebrated architects from 12
countries representing all the regions
of the earth commenced. meetings in
March, 1947," said Ambassador Au-
stin, and "from some 50 basic
dar
100
b
y
secon
out
schemes and a
designs they reached unanimous
agreement on the blueprints which
are now taking form in the buildings
under construction here.
"This demonstration by these ar-
chitects of many countries was a
milestone on the road to accord.
No less than statesmen, they had
strong opinions and vital differences
to harmonize. They did it unani-
mously."
A similar unanimity, he said, had
The new Secretariat Building, its steelwork
completed, and its marble and glass exterior
rising rapidly, towers into the sky above the
East River.
Aproved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-O45O6AOOO1OOO2OO3O-2
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A00010002003 2
marked the Headquarters Advisory
Committee and the General Assem-
bly. And "having achieved unani-
mity on the plans for our United
Nations home, we determinedly seek
agreement on security and well-being
for the members of the household.
"So these structures here are not
merely buildings to house the work-
ers in the cause of peace and world
progress. They are an instrument
tar harmony. They are a symbol
in steel, and marble and glass of
unanimous effort and agreement."
Mayor O'Dwyer told the Assembly
that " no event of greater importance
has ever happened in the history of
the City than its selection as the
permanent United Nations home.
(Complete text appears on page 10).
"We are not impatient with the
United Nations," he said, "because
it has failed immediately to solve all
the problems of the world. We
know that progress is a slow process.
We know that the chosen representa-
tives of the nations must devote their
hearts and minds to the task of
bringing the human family together."
Governor Dewey expressed his
pleasure at welcoming to the State
of New York "not only the President
of the United States but Delegates
and Representatives from all the na-
tions of the world who are taking
part in the most important labor of
all - preserving and building the
peace. (Full text on page 12).
"It is important that we be here,"
he said, "because in this, which is
now the greatest and most cosino..
politan city in the world, we find.
President Truman bids farewell at end of ceremony. Left to right: General
Romulo; President Truman; Mayor William O'Dwyer; U. S. Secretary of
State Dean Acheson; Secretary-General Lie; and Warren Austin, U. S. Dele-
gate to the United Nations (Wide World).
-4-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04:
the fairest meeting-ground for all the
associations, the views and aspira-
tions of all the peoples of the world."
The people of every nation, de-
clared the Governor, "owe the dele-
gates who have labored here their
gratitude in bountiful measure for
peace to the extent they now enjoy it.
"There are many weary miles and
millions of weary hours of drudgery
ahead," he concluded, "But from a
fragile beginning through perilous
tasks the United Nations has weath-
ered
every
storm. It is stronger
today
than
ever before. It is my
hope
that
these mighty buildings
being
here
erected may symbolize
the growing might of the United Na-
tions in the best cause of all, peace
and goodwill on earth."
The next speaker was the Presi-
dent of the United States, whose
advent to the speakers' dais was
heralded by the music of the massed
bands playing, "Hail to the Chief,"
traditional musical salute to an Amer-
ican Chief Executive. Mr. Truman
spoke of the buildings of the Per-
manent Headquarters as "the most
important buildings in the world,"
the center of man's hope for peace
and a better life. (See complete text
on page 13).
At the conclusion of President
Truman's address the Secretary-Gen-
eral, escorted by Mr. Wallace K.
Harrison, Director of Planning, left
the rostrum and mounted a ramp
to where, some 25 feet above the
present street level on what will be
the south side of the permanent
buildings, a two-ton cornerstone of
New Hampshire granite hung, sus-
pended from a crane.
Dedicating the cornerstone, Mr.
Lie deposited in a metal container a
copy of the original Charter of the
United Nations as signed at San
Francisco exactly four years before.
With it he placed a true copy of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and a copy of the program
for the ceremony.
"May the United Nations Charter
be the foundation for as strong and
true a structure of world peace as
the building that rises high above us
here today," he said, giving the sig-
nal to lower the cornerstone into
place.
The Secretary-General then gave
thanks to all whose devotion to the
United Nations had made it possible
to proceed so far with the permanent
Headquarters, expressing special
gratitude to President Truman for all
that the United States, as host coun-
try, had done for the United Nations
Every day must be a United Nations
Day, he said, until the peace of the
world is made secure. (The full text
of the Secretary-General's address
appears on page 19).
Accompanied by Mr. Harrison,
the Secretary-General then returned
to the rostrum and the President of
the Assembly declared the 237th
plenary meeting of the General As-
sembly adjourned at 1:05 PM.
0-2
Approved For Release 2001/04/0 _41-
Approved
 Ap
se 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
"The House of Peace
-by General Carlos P. Romulo,
President of the General Assembly
Here is the full text of the address
of General Carlos P. Romulo, Presi-
dent of the United Nations General
Assembly:
America has
United Nations.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the
greatest American of our time, was
one of the founding fathers of the
United Nations. His concept of the
Four Freedoms defined, in terms of
mankind's need for indivisible unity,
the basic human aspirations now em-
bodied in the Charter of the United
Nations.
The United Nations, for its part,
had. from the outset chosen the
United States of America as its
permanent home. In December
1945 the United Nations Preparatory
Commission recommended that the
permanent headquarters should be
located in the United States. On
February 14, 1946 the General As-
sembly meeting in London voted to
establish the interim headquarters in
New York City and the permanent
headquarters in a suitable site in
Fairfield or in Westchester county.
In the meantime, the City of New
York, under the able administration
of Mayor William O'Dwyer, went to
great trouble and expense to provide
a temporary home for the United
Nations, first in Hunter College and
later in the New York City building
in Flushing.
During the second part of the ses-
sion, which was held in New York.
in October 1.946, the General As-
sembly re-opened the question of the
choice of a site for its permanent:
home. The cities of New York,Phil-
adelphia, Boston and San Francisco
were considered. Finally, on Decem-
ber 10, 1946, Mr. John D. Rockefel-
ler, Jr. made his generous offer of a
donation with which the greater part:
of the permanent site was purchased.
This generous act was matched by
the City of New York which
donated additional land and under-
took the improvement of the area.
adjacent to the headquarters.
Upon the recommendation of
President Truman, the United States
Congress, in one of the most hearten-
ing evidences of its bipartisan policy
in support of the United Nations.,
granted a loan without interest for
the construction of the buildings.
The first allocation of $25,000,000
from that loan was made available
by the Congress in 1948 after agree-
ment between President Truman and
Governor Thomas Dewey. Thus did
the United States Government, by
the symbolic act of giving the United
Nations a permanent home on
American soil, yield a bit of its
sovereignty to the world organiza-
tion.
This ground, a part of America,
now belongs to the world. It is dedi-
cated ground. Upon it will rest the
visible structure of the United Na-?
-6-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved. For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
tions, the instrument by which
humanity hopes to attain peace and
the blessings of peace.
Two priceless documents - the
Charter of the United Nations and
the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights-are to be encased in the slab
of granite that is to be the corner-
stone of that visible structure. One
could wish that other documents
hardly less historic and universal in
their appeal might receive the same
reverential treatment. I refer, among
others, to the resolutions of the Gen-
eral Assembly of 14 December 1946,
4 November 1948 and 19 November
1948, calling for the control of
atomic energy and the prohibition of
atomic weapons and other weapons
of mass destruction, the resolution of
3 November 1947 condemning all
forms of propaganda for a new war
and encouraging the dissemination
of information designed to give ex-
pression to the undoubted desire of
all people for peace, and the resolu-
tion of 3 November 1948 appealing
to the great Powers to renew their
efforts to compose their differences
and establish a lasting peace.
These solemn declarations, re-
peated each year since the birth of
the United Nations, bespeak hu-
manity's insatiable yearning for
peace. I make them again today on
behalf of all the plain and humble
people of all lands, and pray that
their voice may be heard before it is
too late.
Stone and steel alone will not give
permanence to the home of the
United Nations. The edifice that
shall rise on this site will stand as a
symbol of man's hope for a better
life in a better world only so long as
the nations gathered under its roof
shall work together in unity and un-
derstanding. Stronger than steel,
more durable than granite, good will
is the real cornerstone of the United
Nations.
We shall have failed in our su-
preme duty to mankind if we do not
make the permanent home of the
United Nations the House of Peace.
In 1861, a great President of this
Republic, addressed a nation rent by
civil war:
"We are not enemies, but friends
-we must not be enemies. Though
passions may have strained, it must
not break our bonds of affection.
The mystic chords of memory,
stretching from every battlefield and
patriot grave to every living heart
and hearth-stone, all over this broad
land, will yet swell the chorus of the
Union, when again touched, as sure-
ly they will be, by the better angels
of our natures."
Timely Significance
Lincoln's words bear a timely
significance for us today. Truly, we
must not be enemies, we cannot af-
ford to be enemies. Out of the
ancient wisdom of the East has come
the saying: All men are brothers,
members of the human family. There
may have been a time when we
could brush this aside as a naive
sentiment, an idle expression of
idealism. But that time is no more.
With the terrible weapons which
human ingenuity has recently
fashioned, war has become a luxury
we can no longer afford, and peace
a necessity we cannot do without.
The iron circle of war and peace
is broken. Brotherhood is no longer
an outmoded tenet of religion but
the very price and condition of man's
survival.
The United Nations is the last
sacred temple for the rediscovery of
human brotherhood. We must re-
main at peace with one another-or
die.
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
"An Instrument for Harmony
-by Warren R. Austin, Chairman
Headquarters Advisory Committee
Here is the complete text of the
address by Ambassador Warren R.
Austin, Chairman of the Headquar-
ters Advisory Committee of the
United Nations:
This occasion calls to mind many
conferences and consultations in
which I have participated as Chair-
man of the Headquarters Advisory
Committee. Now all this effort
comes to fruition. The home of the
United Nations rises impressively on
its East River site in New York.
There are two points that may add
to an understanding of the achieve-
ment marked by the ceremony here
today. First, that men and women
of goodwill have demonstrated their
interest in the United Nations by
very substantial acts of generosity.
Second, that this home-building en-
terprise has been carried out by re-
markable unanimity among the
Members of the United Nations.
It was difficult to arrive at agree-
ment on the general location and the
specific site for the headquarters of
the world organization. We are
grateful to Mr. John D. Rockefeller,
Jr. for his magnificent benevolence
which decided this emotional con-
troversy and acquired this site. His
practical and generous idea was en-
thusiastically accepted.
Mayor O'Dwyer, the members of
the Citizens Committee, and the of-
ficials of the City of New York have
acted promptly, generously, and with
vision to support the United Nations
home-building enterprise. They pro-
vided twenty million dollars to build
the approaches and made a two mil-
lion dollar grant to start the work.
In every way they facilitated the
Headquarters Agreement, even to the
extent of waiving taxes on this valu-
able property.
Next, we faced the infinitely dif-
ficult problem of obtaining plans for
the buildings. A Board of Design
composed of twelve celebrated archi-
tects from twelve countries, repre-
sentative of all the regions of the
earth, commenced meetings in
March of 1947. From some fifty
basic schemes and about one hun-
dred secondary designs, they reached
unanimous agreement on the blue-
prints which are now taking form
in the buildings under construction
here.
This demonstration by these archi-
tects of many countries was a mile-
stone on the road to accord. No less
than statesmen, they had strong
opinions and vital differences to har-
monize. They did it unanimously.
They presented us a unique house
of the nations having more win-
dowed surface than any other build-
ing in this city. While its facades on
the north and south are of marble,
both the east and west sides are open
to the light, a happy symbolism of
the hopes of peace-loving people
everywhere.
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
Not only did the architects reach
unanimous agreement, but the mem-
bers of our Headquarters Advisory
Committee and the General As-
sembly decided every important
question by unanimous agreement.
Having achieved that unanimity on
the plans for our United Nations
home, we determinedly seek agree-
ment on security and well-being for
the members of the household.
So, these structures here are not
merely buildings to house the work-
ers in the cause of peace and world
progress. They are an instrument for
harmony. They are a symbol in steel
and marble and glass of unanimous
effort and agreement.
As we dedicate the cornerstone on
this anniversary, we re-dedicate our-
selves to the high purposes for which
these buildings are erected. We real-
ize that in order to achieve these
purposes, men of goodwill must
continue to demonstrate their con-
fidence, and continue to harmonize
their differing views in the search for
universal accord.
Internationally famous architects, headed by Wallace K. Harrison (second
from right) drew up the plans for the Permanent Headquarters building of
the United Nations.
-9-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A0'00100020030-2
Mankind's Basic Unity
Here is the full text of the address
by Mayor William O'Dwyer of the
City of New York:
I am proud to be the Mayor of
the City of New York at a time
when a great building is being dedi-
cated to a great purpose.
We of New York City worked
hard to induce the United Nations to
select this city as its headquarters.
No event of greater importance
has ever happened in the history of
our city than its selection as the
permanent home.
This great city of 8 million peo-
ple is the product of the brain and
brawn of men and women from
every corner of the earth, of every
race and creed, of every color and
every national origin, of every alien
culture, habit and prejudice.
Their united effort produced no
Tower of Babel, but this city, a
monument to the success of man's
ability to get along with his fellow-
man.
More Vital
In the long run, as we have
proved, the basic unity of human
beings, the basic likeness of human
beings, is more vital, more important
than these differences.
Of course, we have not yet wiped
out all injustices. The process is dif-
ficult. But we are making headway
to better standards of living and a
better way of life.
When we look back into history,
-by William O'Dwyeir, Mayor
of the City of New York
we see civilization springing up
where men are brought together into
association with each other, and we
see it disappearing as this united ef-
fort is broken up.
Two terrible World Wars have
been fought in our own generation.
The futility of war as a solution of
anything is obvious.
We are beginning to realize that
progress and improvement in inter-
national relations becomes possible
when representatives meet in peace-
ful association; the closer the asso-
ciation, the greater the possibilities of
improvement.
To Abolish War
If wars are to be forever abolished,
the men and women of this world
must devote their hearts and minds
to the task of bringing the family of
nations together and settling, by dis-
cussion and calm consideration, the
differences which warfare never dis-
solves.
The differences which exist among
the various nations and races of the
world have always been overem-
phasized. They are more superficial
than real.
The base upon which all nations
rest and depend is the human being.
He is common to all nations. His
basic needs, ambitions, joys and
hopes are the same the world over.
It is our sincerest hope that here,
at United Nations Headquarters, this
great truth will be demonstrated day
-10-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved' For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
Among the visitors who attended the cornerstone-laying ceremony were
chiefs of the six-nation Iroquois Indian Confederacy.
after day.
We are not impatient with the
United Nations because it has failed
immediately to solve all the problems
of the world. We know that progress
is a slow process. We know that the
chosen representatives of the nations
must devote their hearts and minds
to the task of bringing the human
family together.
May the efforts of the United Na-
tions be crowned with success. May
it grow into an enduring establish-
ment for world peace and security.
Long live the United Nations!
With the help of God it will.
View of audience at open-air meeting of General Assembly at which cor-
nerstone was laid.
-11-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A00010U020030-2
"The Best Cause of All"
-by Thomas E. Dewey, Governor
of the State of New York
Here, in full, is the text of the ad-
dress delivered by the Governor of
New York State, Thomas E. Dewey:
It is a great pleasure to participate
in this ceremony in which the lay-
ing of the cornerstone of the United
Nations headquarters will be at-
tended by the President of the United
States. If tasks of this kind were his
only duties I might even envy him
his job. But, in truth, his responsi-
bilities are such that no one should
envy him and all should wish him
very well indeed.
It is a great pleasure to welcome
here to the State of New York not
only the President of the United
States but delegates and representa-
tives from all the nations of the
world who are taking part in the
most important labor of all-pre-
serving and building the peace.
It is important that we be here
because in this, which is now the
greatest and most cosmopolitan city
in the world, we find the fairest
meeting-ground for all the associa-
tions, the views and the aspirations
of all the peoples of the world.
It has been my privilege to aid in
procuring the extraordinary but
necessary legislation of our State
and, something more than a year
ago, to assist in influencing the suc-
cessful appropriation of the money
to build this building. Everyone here
has done his part in one way or an-
other. But none of us would be here
today if it were not for the action of
one great and good man whose gen-
erosity and quick action saved the
United Nations for New York and
New York for the United Nations.
We are all profoundly indebted, as
are the peoples of the world, for the
very existence of this building here,
to the generosity of Mr. John D.
Rockefeller, Jr.
At this cornerstone laying it seems
appropriate that we should also pay
tribute to the permanent staff, as
well as to the delegates here for their
labors in our common cause. It is
not always pleasant to be uprooted
from your home and transported
thousands of miles to a strange city.
It is often affirmatively unpleasant to
sit through many hours of debate
which often rises to abuse, to keep
tempers in hand and to subordinate
everything to the cause of justice and
peace. It is fair to say that people
of every nation owe to the delegates,
who have labored here, their grati-
tude in bountiful measure for peace
to the extent they now enjoy it.
There are many weary miles and
millions of weary hours of drudgery
ahead. But from a fragile beginning
through perilous tests the United Na-
tions has weathered every storm. It
is stronger today than ever before. It
is my hope that these mighty build-
ings being here erected may symbol-
ize the growing might of the United
Nations in the best cause of all,
peace and good will on earth.
-12-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved For-Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
-'
"The Centre of Man's Hope
Here, in full, is the text of.the ad-
dress delivered at the cornerstone-
ceremonies in New York City by
Mr. Harry S. Truman, President of
the United States of America:
President Romulo, Mr. Lie, Dis-
tinguished Representatives and Fel-
low Guests:
We have come together today to
lay the cornerstone of the Perma-
nent Headquarters of the United
Nations. These are the most im-
portant buildings in the world, for
they are the centre of man's hope
for peace and a better life. This is
the place where the nations of the
world will work together to make
that hope a reality.
This occasion is a source of spe-
cial pride to the people of the
United. States. We are deeply con-
scious of the honor of having the
Permanent Headquarters of the
United Nations in this country. At
the same time, we know how im-
portant it is that the people of other
nations should come to know at first
hand the work of this world organi-
zation. We consider it appropriate,
therefore, that the United Nations
should hold meetings from time to
time in other countries when that
can be done. For the United Na-
tions must draw its inspiration from
the people of every land; it must be
-13-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04:
-by Harry S. Truman,
President of the United States
truly representative of and responsive
to the peoples of the world whom it
was created to serve.
This ceremony marks a new stage
in the growth of the United Na-
tions. It is fitting that it should take
place on United Nations Day, the
fourth anniversary of the day the
Charter entered into effect. During
the four years of its existence, this
organization has become a powerful
force for promoting peace and
friendship among the peoples of the
world. The construction of this new
headquarters is tangible proof of the
President Truman addressing Gen-
eral Assembly on Oct. 24, 1949.
(Wide World).
0-2
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100'020030-2
steadfast faith of the Members in the
vitality and strength of the organiza-
tion, and of our determination that
it shall become more and more ef-
fective in the years ahead.
The Charter embodies the hopes
and ideals of men everywhere.
Hopes and ideals are not static. They
are dynamic, and they give life and
vigor to the United Nations. We
look forward to a continuing growth
and evolution of the organization to
meet the changing needs of the
world's peoples. We hope that
eventually every nation on earth will
be a fully qualified and loyal
member.
We who are close to the United
Nations sometimes forget that it is
more than the procedures, the coun-
cils and the debates, through which
it operates. We tend to overlook the
fact that the organization is the liv-
ing embodiment of the principles of
the Charter-the renunciation of ag-
gression and the joint determination
to build a better life.
But if we overlook this fact, we
will fail to realize the strength and
power of the United Nations. We
will fail to understand the true
nature of this new force that has
been created in the affairs of our
time.
The United Nations is essentially
an expression of the moral nature of
man's aspirations. The Charter clear-
ly shows our determination that in-
ternational problems must be settled
on a basis acceptable to the con-
science of mankind.
Because the United Nations is the
dynamic expression of what all the
peoples of the world desire, because
it sets up a standard of right and
justice for all nations, it is greater
than any of its Members. The com-
pact that underlies the United Na-
tions cannot be ignored--and it can-
not be infringed or dissolved.
We in the United States, in the
course of our own history, have
learned what it means to set up an
organization to give expression to
the common desire for peace and
unity. Our Constitution expressed
the will of the people that there
should be a United States. And
through toil and struggle the people
made their will prevail.
In the same way, I think, the
Charter and the organization served
by these buildings express the will
of the people of the world that there
shall be a United Nations.
This does not mean that all the
Member countries are of one mind
an all issues. The controversies
which divide us go very deep. We
should understand that these build-
ings are not a monument to the
unanimous agreement of nations on
all things. But they signify one new
and important fact. They signify
that the peoples of the world are of
one mind in their determination to
solve their common problems by
working together.
Essential for Success
Our success in the United Nations
will be measured not only in terms
of our ability to meet and master
political controversies. We have
learned that political controversies
grow out of social and -economic
problems. If the people of the world
are to live together in peace, we
must work together to establish the
conditions, that will provide a firm
foundation for peace.
For this reason, our success will
l
also be measured by the extent to
which the rights of individual human
-14-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved FonRelease 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
beings are realized. And it will be
measured by the extent of our eco-
nomic and social progress.
These fundamental facts are
recognized both in the language of
the Charter and in the activities in
which the United Nations has been
engaged during the past four years.
The Charter plainly makes respect
for human rights by nations a mat-
ter of international concern. The
Member nations have learned from
bitter experience that regard for
human rights is indispensable to poli-
tical, economic and social progress.
They have learned that disregard of
human rights is the beginning of
tyranny and, too often, the begin-
ning of war.
Respect for Human Rights
For these reasons, the United Na-
tions has devoted much of its time
to fostering respect for human rights.
The General Assembly has adopted
the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and the Convention on
Genocide. Other important meas-
ures in this field are under study.
I am . confident that this great
work will go steadily forward. The
preparation of a Covenant on
Human Rights by the Human Rights
Commission is a task with which the
United States is deeply concerned.
We believe strongly that the attain-
ment of basic civil and political
rights for men and women every-
where-without regard to race, lan-
guage or religion-is essential to the
peace we are seeking. We hope that
the Covenant on Human Rights will
contain effective provisions regard-
ing freedom of information. The
minds of men must be free from
artificial and arbitrary restraints, in
order that they may seek the truth
and apply their intelligence to the
making of a better world.
The Challenge Of Poverty
Another field in which the United
Nations is undertaking to build the
foundations of a peaceful world is
that of economic development. To-
day, at least half of mankind lives
in dire poverty. Hundreds of mil-
lions of men, women and children
lack adequate food, clothing and
shelter. We cannot achieve perma-
nent peace and prosperity in the
world until the standard of living
in under-developed areas is raised.
It is for this reason that I have
urged the launching of a vigorous
and concerted effort to apply mod-
ern technology and capital invest-
ment to improve the lot of these
peoples. These areas need a large
expansion of investment and trade.
In order for this to take place, they
also need the application of scientific
knowledge and technical skills to
their basic problems - producing
more food, improving health and
sanitation, making use of their, nat-
ural resources and educating their
people.
To meet these needs, the United
Nations and its agencies are prepar-
ing a detailed program for technical
assistance to under-developed areas.
The Economic and Social Coun-
cil last summer defined the basic
principles which should underlie this
program. The General Assembly is
now completing and perfecting the
initial plans. The fact that the Eco-
nomic Committee of the Assembly
voted unanimously for the resolution
on technical assistance shows that
this is a common cause which com-
mands united support. Although dif-
ferences may arise over details of the
program, I fervently hope that the
Approved For Release 2001/04/0415CEA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
members of the United. Nations will
remain unanimous in their determi-
nation to raise the standards of
living of the less fortunate members
of the human family.
The United States intends to play
its full part in this great enterprise.
We are already carrying on a num-
ber of activities in this field. I shall
urge the Congress, when it recon-
venes in January, to give high
priority to proposals which will
make possible additional technical
assistance and capital investment.
I should like to speak of one other
problem which is of major concern
to the United Nations. That is the
control of atomic energy.
Control Of Atomic -Energy
Ever since the first atomic
weapon was developed, a major ob-
jective of United States policy has
been a system of international con-
trol of atomic energy that would as-
sure effective prohibition of atomic
weapons, and at the same time would
promote the peaceful use of atomic
energy by all nations.
In November, 1945, Prime Min-
ister Attlee of the United Kingdom,
Prime Minister King of Canada and
I agreed that the problem of inter-
national control of atomic energy
should be referred to the United Na-
tions. The establishment of the
United Nations Atomic Energy
Commission was one of the first acts
of the first session of the General
Assembly.
That Commission worked for
three years on the problem. It de-
veloped a plan of control which re-
flected valuable contributions by al-
most every country represented on
the Commission. This plan of con-
trol was overwhelmingly approved
by the General Assembly on Novem-
ber 4, 1948.
This is a good plan. It is a plan
that can work and, more important,
it is a plan that can be effective in
accomplishing its purpose. It is the
only plan so far developed that
Model of the "world" capital as visualized by the architects. Skyscraper on
right is Secretariat Building. In front of it are General Assembly and
Meeting Halls. On extreme right is the Library, and on extreme left is the
Specialized Agencies Building.
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
would meet the technical require-
ments of control, that would make
prohibition of atomic weapons ef-
fective, and at the same time pro-
mote the peaceful development of
atomic energy on a co-operative
basis.
We support this plan and will con-
tinue to support it unless and until a
better and more effective plan is put
forward. To assure that atomic
energy will be devoted to man's wel-
fare and not to his destruction is a
continuing challenge to all nations
and all peoples. The United States
is now, and will remain, ready to
do its full share in meeting this chal-
lenge.
Requisites
Respect for human rights, promo-
tion of economic development, and
a system for control of weapons are
requisites to the kind of world we
seek. We cannot solve these prob-
lems overnight, but we must keep
everlastingly working at them in
order to reach our goal.
No single nation can always have
its own way, for these are human
problems, and the solution of human
problems is to be found in negotia-
tion and mutual adjustment.
The challenge of the Twentieth
Century is the challenge of human
relations, and not of impersonal
natural forces. The real dangers con-
fronting us today have their origins
in outmoded habits of thought, in
the inertia of human nature, and in
preoccupation with supposed na-
tional interests to the detriment of
the common good.
As members of the United Na-
tions, we are convinced that patience,
the spirit of reasonableness, and
hard work will solve the most stub-
born political poblems. We are con-
vinced that individual rights and so-
cial and economic progress can be
advanced through international co-
operation.
Our faith is in the betterment of
human relations. Our vision is of a
better world in which men and na-
tions can live together, respecting
one another's rights and co-operating
in building a better life for all. Our
efforts are made in the belief that
men and nations can co-operate, that
there are no international problems
which men of good will cannot solve
or adjust.
Mr. President, Mr. Lie, the laying
of this cornerstone is an act of faith
-our unshakeable faith that the
United Nations will succeed in ac-
complishing the great tasks for
which it was created.
But "faith without works is dead."
We must make our devotion to the
ideals of the Charter as strong as
the steel in this building. We must
pursue the objectives of the Charter
with resolution as firm as the rock
on which this building rests. We
must conduct our affairs foursquare
with the Charter, in terms as true as
this cornerstone.
If we do these things, the United
Nations will endure and will bring
the blessings of peace and well-being
to mankind.
17
Approved For Release 2001/04/04 CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Ap
PoWd 0-2
Ap
 Approved For?Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506AO00100020030-2
"In the Name of the Peoples
-by Trygve Lie, Secretary-
General of the United Nations
Here is the complete text of the
address delivered by Mr. Trygve Lie,
Secretary-General of the United
Nations, at the laying of the corner-
stone of the Permanent Headquar-
ters.
It is with a profound sense of the
historic significance of this occasion
that I proceed to dedicate the cor-
nerstone of the Permanent Head-
quarters of the United Nations.
The Charter of the United Na-
tions begins, as you know, with the
words "We, the Peoples of the
United Nations." In the name of
the peoples of the United Nations I
now place for deposit in the corner-
stone, to be preserved for all time,
an exact copy of the original Charter
signed at San Francisco. May the
United Nations Charter be the
foundation for as strong and true a
structure of world peace as the build-
ing that rises high above us here to-
day.
Standard for Governments
With the Charter of the United
Nations I also place for deposit in
the cornerstone a true copy of the
Universal Declaration of Human
Rights as adopted by the General
Assembly of the United Nations on
December 10, 1948. This Declara-
tion sets a standard for governments
to which men and women of every
race, language, color and belief can
appeal whenever their rights are
violated. It is a standard by which
they can rally 'the support of the
opinion of mankind for the fuller
realization of the rights that are here
declared.
Finally, I place also in the corner-
stone a copy of the program of this
ceremony of dedication.
Mr. President, the cornerstone will
now be lowered into place. The
point at which it will now rest marks
the south side of the Permanent
Headquarters buildings when they
are completed.
We have been able to proceed so
far as this in the building of the
Permanent Headquarters only be-
cause of the devotion to the United
Nations of thousands of men and
women in every walk of life.
There are so many people I have
it in my heart to thank! I cannot
name them all.
Beside me is Wallace Harrison,
the Director of Planning, whose
genius is responsible for so much.
Over there are the workers who were
swarming arotmd the girders, the
marble and the glass of this building
only an hour ago and who will
return to their uncompleted task
when this ceremony ends.
There are many, many others here
-and some who are not here-the
architects and engineers and consult-
ants; the other members of our Head-
quarters Staff and the Secretariat;
the contractors; the city officials, Mr.
RocJcefeller, and, of course, Am-
bassador Austin and the members of
the Headquarters Advisory Commit-
tee, Mayor O'Dwyer and Governor
Dewey.
To President Truman I wish to
--19-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506AO00100020030-2
 20030-2
The cornerstone being dedicated by Secretary-General Lie. Deposited in the
stone were a copy of the United Nations Charter and a copy of the Uni-
versal Declaration of Human Rights.
express the gratitude of the United
Nations Secretariat for many things
that the United States, as the host
country, and he, as its President,
have done for the United Nations.
Since we came here to New York
in 1946, he has really been the
champion of the United Nations and
his name, together with those of
Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Cor-
dell Hull, will always be connected
with the United Nations. And this
building and the others to come are
closer to his name than to any other
person in the world.
We are grateful for the strong
words of support for the United Na-
tions that he and the other speakers
have brought to us on this United
Nations Day.
The world needs words of inspira-
tion. and of faith in the United Na-
tions by the statesmen of the Great
Powers and the other Member Na-
tions. Such words are not mean-
ingless. They count for much.
Throughout history they have ral-
lied humanity to great causes.
The world needs acts, as well as
words, acts of statesmanship and
courage by the Member Govern-
ments in support of the United Na-
tions.
I believe profoundly that only the
success of the United Nations can
prevent a third world war and
achieve lasting peace.
The United Nations has not yet
succeeded, nor has it failed. It is an
unfinished structure. Many years
will be needed to complete it.
The United Nations will succeed
if the peoples of the world, acting
through their governments, insist
upon unwavering support for the
United Nations Charter, both in acts
and in words, and upon using the
machinery of the United Nations to
its full capacity, not only part of the
time, but all the time.
We shall have peace in proportion
to the amount of hard work and
strong faith the peoples of the world
give to making the United Nations
work.
Mr. President, it should be our
purpose-it must be our duty-to
make every day in the year a United
Nations Day until the peace of the
world is made secure.
-20-
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
 Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2
Search for a permanent United
Nations home began with the earliest
London meetings of the Preparatory
Commission. While the Commission
debated suggestions and offers, the
United States Congress on 11 De-
cember, 1945, unanimously invited
the organization to establish its
headquarters in that country.
In February, 1946, the General
Assembly voted to establish interim
headquarters in New York City and
Permanent Headquarters in the near-
by suburban region. Later that year
the question was re-opened and a
sub-committee of the Permanent
Headquarters Committee inspected
several sites in the United States
including New York, Philadelphia,
Boston and San Francisco.
During the General Assembly's
first New York session, Mr. John
D. Rockefeller, Jr., offered $8,500,-
000 to purchase midtown property
on the East River. Simultaneously
the City of New York offered to
acquire and give other properties in
the zone.
On December 14, 1946, the Gen-
eral Assembly voted to accept the
offer and establish the Permanent
Headquarters on land extending from
42nd Street to 48th Street, between
First Avenue and the East River.
The Secretary-General established
a Headquarters Planning Office and
the architectural design and site de-
velopment plans were prepared, in-
corporating a program to improve
city streets and adjacent areas pre-
sented by the City. These were
unanimously approved by the Gen-
eral Assembly November 20, 1947
and the Secretary-General author-
ized to negotiate an interest-free loan
agreement with the United States
Government for $65,000,000 to
finance the project.
In 1948, demolition on the site
was completed, construction plans
made, the loan agreement approved
by the United States Congress and
signed by the President of the
United States.
By year's end, excavation was
under way and on, October 5, 1949,
the United Nations flag was raised
atop the finished steel framework of
the Secretariat Building.
Work on the General Asembly
auditorium, council chambers, meet-
ing halls and garages will soon be
started and it is expected these major
units will be ready in 1951.
Approved For Release 2001/04/04: CIA-RDP78-04506A000100020030-2