6. That every proposal presented by anyone of any nation be most carefully studied to determine its end effect upon the sovereign rights of Americans and our Constitution. 7. That the Genocide Convention, and Covenant of Human Rights, and all other such devious proposals be rejected by the United States. Senator HOLLAND. Thank you very much, Mr. Wade. Call the next witness. Mr. DAVIS. Dr. Frederick Nelson. Senator HOLLAND. We will be glad to hear from you. STATEMENT OF FREDERICK NELSON, MIAMI SHORES, FLA. Mr. NELSON. My name is Frederick Nelson; I am minister of the Miami Shores Community Church and a former chaplain in the United States Naval Reserve. I am a member of the Social Action Committee of the Florida Conference of Congregational Christian Churches and a member of the executive board of the United World Federalists Florida Branch, Inc. However, today, I speak only for myself-not as spokesman for any particular group. U. N.-MAN'S BEST HOPE In customary ministerial fashion I take a text as the basis for my brief remarks-not from the Bible but from President Eisenhower. In a statement to a group at the White House some time ago, he said he believed the U. N. was "man's best organized hope to substitute the conference table for the battlefield." Since fighting out issues on a battlefield under modern modes of warfare especially, is suicidal-not to mention childish-what more logical and desirable course of action could be taken than that of settling difference around a conference table in the manner of mature adults. The widespread desire to make this a reality is what gave birth to the U. N. It is true that the possibility of mankind being able to accomplish this goal is still only a hope-but it is no longer an unrealistic and meaningless hope, but the coming alive of an idea and a dream—and the formation of an official body in which that dream can be nurtured and applied in the test tube of our collective life as nations. It is a hope based on the belief that there are some things we can do better together than alone-and that when enough of the nations of the world want peace and security badly enough they can get it through intelligent discussion and cooperation. You may have heard the expression that freckles would make a good coat of tan if only they could get together. The U. N. is based on the premise that the nations of the world would make a peaceful and orderly civilization if only they could get together in mutual trust and cooperation around a conference table. Well, most of them have gotten together officially so that their hope of peace is now "an organized hope" as the President has said. Despite some weaknesses it has proved an impressive potential instrument for the realization of mankind's dream of a warless world. We must do everything possible to keep it intact and improve upon it so that it can continue to function and bring about their fuller realizaton of this hope. When the World Council of Churches met last summer in Evanston bringing together different Christian religious bodies from all over the world one of the slogans that was sounded very strongly and repeatedly was this, "We intend to stay together." They were determined that after progressing to the point that they had achieved togetherness as religious bodies they were not going to break up at that promising juncture of things. They were bent on staying together and making further strides toward Christian unity. I believe that must be the determination of the nations of the world with respect to the U. N. After 10 years of togetherness around a conference table, marred to be sure, by considerable disharmony and division at times, they must all say "We intend to stay together." For there is every reason to believe that if they do the U. N. will grow stronger and more effective in the role it can play as an agency for world peace and security. NEED TO MAKE U. N. WORK Moreover there is a great urgency about its doing so. Certainly the advent of the H-bomb requires that this "best organized hope" of man for peace be continued. Maybe you have heard the story of the golfer who was quite a novice at the game. He had teed off and found that the ball had landed right on the top of a little ant hill. Taking his next club in hand he swung at the ball only to find he missed it completely. However, he did manage to destroy about one-third of the ant hill leaving the ball precariously perched on the remaining third. If he were a minister at that that time he would probably ask in some exasperation, "Will some laymen say something appropriate?" By this time the ants in that remaining portion of the hill, realizing their imminent danger of destruction, got in a little huddle to talk over the situation. This was the conclusion they reached, "If we are going to survive we better get together and get on the ball." We have gotten together as nations in the U. N. because we, like the ants, in the story, realize our imminent danger of destruction if we don't. But now, we need to get on the ball and help make this "best organized hope" an increasingly stronger instrument for peace and security. I am for anything and everything that will accomplish that end. For this further reason, I think it is desirable for the U. N. Charter to be reviewed, and for such changes to be made so as to strengthen it and make more likely the realization of its magnificant objectives. Thank you. Senator HOLLAND. Thank you, Dr. Nelson. I am sorry to have to announce to you that my distinguished colleague has to leave. The only seat he could get out of town this afternoon is on a plane which leaves very shortly, and he will have to leave us, much as he regrets to do so, and we regret even more to lose him. Before he goes, I would like to put in the record, with the leave of the committee, including the two of us, these numerous communications which have been received from Florida citizens and groups asking that they be given the chance to express their views in this record. I have not seen the statements; I do not have any idea what their positions are, but I will mention the persons and organizations. Thomas Gaskins of Palmdale, Fla.; Leo Robinson, president of the American Jewish Committee-he seems to have a statement attached to a letter which will be included; Bushnell Industries, Tampa, Fla. through Mr. Byron E. Bushnell. Those are all letters or letters and briefs. Here is a wire signed by Jack Purdy, Lawrence Serra, Thetus Lynn, R. L. Southwick, all giving the address of 1112 Memorial Highway, Tampa, Fla.; a wire signed by Robert M. Blackburn, chairman of the Deland, Fla., Church, for 55 church people meeting together in the city of Deland; a telegram by Mrs. Harry B. Shank, of Deland; and a ware from Mr. and Mrs. Ben H. Grant, Jr., and David C. Warrington of Jacksonville; a letter from Dr. F. P. Archer, Sr., of Miami; a telegram from Mrs. Jamie W. Gingles; and a letter from Edgar W. Waybright of Jacksonville. They will be included in the transcript of the hearing. (The documents referred to are as follows:) Mr. HAROLD A. HAYWARD, PALMDALE, FLA., March 14, 1955. President, International Affairs Department, Miami Chamber of Commerce, Miami, Fla. DEAR SIR: Several people have informed me of the subcommittee hearings on the revision of the U. N. to be held in Miami on March 18. And I am informed that the committee is interested in grassroots opinion of the U. N. I won't be able to attend the hearing, but here is my grassroots opinion regarding the U. N. When people are wise enough to make the U. N. work, the U. N. won't be needed. The sooner the U. N. is out of the United States and the United States out of the U. N., the better it will be for the people of the United States, and the world in general. I knew when the U. N. was first formed that it could not last. It won't last. The sooner it is done away with, and people start minding their own business, the cheaper it will be. Yours very truly, Mr. HAROLD A. HAYWARD, THOMAS GASKINS. THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE, Care of International Relations Division, GREATER MIAMI CHAPTER, Miami Chamber of Commerce, Miami, Fla. DEAR MR. HAYWARD: I respectfully request the opportunity to submit the attached into the record of the hearings of the subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate, which will meet in Miami on Friday, March 18, 1955. This statement is being submitted by me as president of the Greater Miami Chapter, American Jewish Committee. I am sorry that I will not be able to appear in person and therefore request that it be read into the record. Sincerely, LEO ROBINSON, President. STATEMENT BY LEO ROBINSON, PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER MIAMI CHAPTER, AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE The purpose and principles of the U. N., as set forth in the preamble and article I of the charter, provide a clear rationale for American Jewish Committee support of the U. N. We support the U. N., not only because the rights of Jews are made the more secure as these purposes are advanced, but because they are desirable in themselves and should command the support of right-thinking persons everywhere. The following statement was adopted by the national executive committee of our organization in May 1954: "The American Jewish Committee is dedicated to promoting universal acceptance of the principles set forth in the U. N. Charter and in the declaration of human rights and obtaining their widest implementation in practice. The acceptance we seek is not merely formal nor legal, nor limited to the adoption of international agreements or national legislation. We believe declarations and laws must be translated into practice. "Achievement of this goal is complicated by differing, educational levels and cultural, political, and economic backgrounds of nations and peoples. The adoption of international agreements and their effectiveness depend upon a public opinion which accepts the validity of the principles underlying such agreements and is ready to translate them into conduct. "We support all efforts designed to forward the universal acceptance of human rights and believe it desirable for a covenant on human rights in general and conventions on specific human rights to be adopted by all nations. We are aware of the obstacles but reject the view that they justify abandoning action by treaty. "Wide discussion both of the declaration of human rights and of the proposed covenants should continue as an educational means to the creation of a receptive public opinion. Such discussion will be the more effective if the difficulties and differences of opinion are frankly admitted. "We recognize that the achievements in law and in practice of the rights set forth in the declaration must be by a gradual process accommodated to the constitutional systems of the respective countries. "To achieve the realization of the principles of the declaration and to further the adoption of covenants, we support the United States action program and other methods designed to attain these ends. Some of these programs are already underway under the auspices of the U. N. and its specialized agencies. They should be extended and intensified so that the principles of the declaration of human rights may be realized in the conduct of peoples." This is a statement with which we are in full accord. We believe that the United States should continue to support the U. N. and in addition lend its efforts toward the strengthening of that organization. We urge, therefore, that this be an underlying aim in all the deliberations which our Government may make in any charter-revision proposals. In addition we urge consideration of participation and support to the activities listed below: 1. Active support and participation in the program of worldwide studies of discrimination in various fields (education, occupation, and employment, emigration and travel, political rights, and religious rights and practices), to be undertaken by the U. N. Secretariat. We believe that these studies, when completed, will result in ideas for programs of action that will be beneficial. 2. Support and assistance for the implementation of the ECOSOC resolution of August 1954. This proposed conference of NGO's will consider problems in the field of discrimination and prejudice. 3. Careful evaluation of the UNESCO program and the method of its operation with a view toward further strengthening this activity and its many valuable contributions to mankind. 4. Continued and increased use by the United States of the U. N. as a forum for directing the spotlight of world opinion on countries and regions where the rights of minority groups are being violated. We believe this to be a particularly significant means of bringing to the attention of the entire world the high disregard which Communist and Communist-dominated nations have for minority group rights. BUSHNELL INDUSTRIES, Tampa, Fla., March 15, 1955. Re Revisions, U. N. Charter. Hon. SPESSARD HOLLAND, Miami, Fla. DEAR SENATOR HOLLAND: Clearly the speeches of the Senators in Congress during the debate, on adoption of the charter as a treaty, had dominantly in mind the theme of peace. The world WPA that has developed through the specialized agencies was no part of the real plan. True, covertly, the concept of this world spending extravaganza was hidden behind the U. N. picture, materialized in the outline of these specialized agencies, expansible without check. American citizens would have killed the U. N. as dead as the League, had the truth been told and the facts concerning this oncoming tax burden had been revealed. Currently the U. N. is an impossible monstrosity with membership extended to states following mortally opposing philosophies: Communists versus freemen. Hence on its present basis the United Nations should be abolished. In its stead should be erected a new world order embodying the clean concept of a world forum as revealed in these same speeches of our Senators. For example Senator Taft said: "The sovereignty of each nation within its territory remains complete and should remain complete except as it may be modified by later agreement to limit armaments. The treaty is not a move toward a world state." This argument should be held inviolate today by our people and their representatives. Hence we should have a world forum for the discussion of world problems, and for airing of world ideas. There should be no allusion to or move toward world government. And the people of each state should by referendum decide whether to join this world group. Not even 100 percent vote of the Senators (and Representatives for that matter) should impose on our people this diabolical instrument now called United Nations, whose object-though denied is to project the American people into a world state. But the U. N. is here. Hence currently changes in its charter should incluude, at least: 1. Deletion of all reference to human rights, welfare, social progress. These things are included in "Domestic affairs." 2. Article 2, paragraph 7 should be reworded to preclude in specific language interference in domestic affairs. 3. Article 8 should be revised to exclude Communists to any place in the U. N. whatever. 4. Provision for resignation by a state, at will, should be provided. 5. The concept of world police should be eliminated. There are, of course, many provisions which should be made more specific, or eliminated, aimed at preserving sovereignty for all states. Obviously we laymen, and taxpayers, unpracticed in these matters, and occupied full tilt trying to accumulate enough money to pour into the United States Federal coffers to pay for this world vaudeville, are at a distinct handicap in undertaking to match wits and understanding in these matters with Mr. Alger Hiss, Harry Dexter White, et al., who-over a period of months, perhaps yearspracticed their deceit and subterfuge to (a) come forth with the charter and its entanglements, and (b) conspire with some elements in our own Government to press for adoption as a treaty. God help America, and may our representatives in the Congress of the United States stand foursquare for a free and unfettered United States of America. Let us be thankful to and for Senator W. F. Knowland. Yours truly, BYRON E. BUSHNELL. TAMPA, FLA., March 18, 1955. SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ON UNITED NATIONS, The undersigned patriotic American citizens petition your committee from Tampa, Fla., to consider our opinions respecting the United Nations and its charter. The United Nations was supposed to bring peace to the world and harmony to international affairs with their hope, goodwill, and openhanded generosity. The American people have financed this dream and stood for its improper interference in our internal affairs. The 10-year history of U. N. is evidence enough of its failure to accomplish other goals more acceptable to communism than to the advancement on earth of the American Christian idea that the God-given integrity of freemen alone can produce the wealth and promote the harmony that all men desire. We belong to that well-informed minority of American patriots who have examined the evidence turned up by your own parent body the Congress of the United States as well as by honorable groups of private citizens. On the basis of truth discovered but constantly surpressed. We respectfully urge you to note well that honest, informed Americans firmly oppose any further extension of the powers of U. N. We believe that opposition to most of the present programs of U. N. come within the purview of your oath |