Page 84 - NAVAL SCIENCE 3 TEXTBOOK

[NTERNATION(\L LAW AND THE SEA 89

heads of state, no matter where, "live" <lnd in color on our living after every major war, beginning with the Congress of Vie nil a fol-
room TV screen. It is now n simple matter to direct-dial a landline lowing the abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1814. After \ Vorld
or cellular telephone cnll ::Jlmost anywhere ill the world. Interactive \ Val' I, substantial progress was made toward this goal with the for-
computer networks sllch as the Internet have lIshered in an infor- mation of the League of Nations. Although the league t3iled to pre-
mation revolution of instantaneolls electronic communication ser\'e peace and was ultimatel)· disbanded, it provided the world
worldwide. Intern::Jtional law is only beginning to grapple with with valuable experience in the association of s~ates to settle politi-
some of the legal questions regarding its use for illicit purposes, cal, ceo nomic. and social problems by peaceful mcans. Following
such ns drug trafficking nnd pornography. \Vorld \Var 11, on 24 October 1945, the United Nations organiza-
The economic development of the world is certain to bring tion officially came into being with the ratification of its charter
with it an increasing division of the rich and poor Third \Vorld by the majority of the original fifty member states. There are cur-
nations. until or unless viable solutions to this inequity call be rently 192 so\'ereign states as members of the United Nntions.
found. Humanitarianism apparently is not sufficient reason for
industrialized states to help improve the Ji\'es of the undel'de-
The United Nations
"eloped, hungry, and poverty-stricken ones toda),. But one d::JY.
the terrible dnnger, of overpopulntion. shortnges of food. global The basic purpose of the United Nations is to maintain interna-
warming. and the restlessness caused by huge numbers of people tional peace and security. to take effective collective action to pre-
in misery will be inescapable. Cooperation in this effort alllong all vent and remove threats to world peace. and to coopemte in solv-
nations is essentinl for the survival of all mankind. \Ve in the \Vest ing international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian
are trying to build a world based on law; as we do so, we enter into problems. To accomplish these goals, the principle of the sovereign
a new phase of world history in which all nations must recognize equality of all members is recognized. All members have agreed
shared interests and accept shared responsibilities. International to fulfill the obligations of the charter, to settle their international
law is recognized by the world communit), ns the fundamental disputes by peaceful 111e;1I1S, ilnd to give the United Nations every
requiremcnt for orderly relntions. assistance in any action it takes in accordance with the charter.
Action in the United Nations is centered mainly in the Security
Council. It comprises fifteen members. The five major powers-
Collective Security
the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and the People's
The idea of forllling an intern<ltional organization for the purpose Republic of China- are permanent members, and ten other
of peacefully settling disagreements between nations was proposed nonpermancnt member nations are elected for two-year terms.

The headquarters of the United
Nations, New York. The tali rectan-
gular building to the left is the UN
Secretariat, and the low building in
the center with a partial domed roof
is the General Assembly.