Harry Truman Relates the Role He Played in Establishment of the United Nations

Never before offered for sale; An extraordinary letter on the part he and the United States played in the birth of the UN

A wartime Declaration by United Nations initially was signed by representatives of the United States, Britain, China, and the Soviet Union; over the course of the war, 21 other Allied nations joined this group. On April 25, 1945, as Allied victory drew close, representatives of the member states met in San Francisco to write a treaty for a postwar UN that could arbitrate international disputes without conflict and prevent another world cataclysm. President Truman said to the opening of the conference, “The world has experienced a revival of an old faith in the everlasting moral force of justice. At no time in history has there been a more important Conference, or a more necessary meeting, than this one in San Francisco, which you are opening today. On behalf of the American people, I extend to you a most hearty welcome.” Americans followed news of the proceedings in San Francisco with intense interest.

On June 26, 50 nations signed the new United Nations Charter, the founding document of the largest international organization in world history. In a preamble and 19 chapters, the Charter lays out the rules and structure of the UN and describes how the body works for global peace, security, and human rights. President Truman closed the United Nations Conference on that day with hope for the promise and possibility of the new international organization: “Upon all of us, in all our countries, is now laid the duty of transforming into action these words which you have written. Upon our decisive action rests the hope of those who have fallen, those now living, those yet unborn — the hope for a world of free countries — with decent standards of living — which will work and cooperate in a friendly civilized community of nations. This new structure of peace is rising upon strong foundations. Let us not fail to grasp this supreme chance to establish a world-wide rule of reason — to create an enduring peace under the guidance of God.”

On July 2, President Truman brought a copy of the Charter into the Senate and gave a plainspoken yet heartfelt address urging ratification. Truman – once a senator himself – reminded Congress that the people of the world were watching them. “For they look to this body of elected representatives of the people of the United States to take the lead in approving the Charter…and pointing the way for the rest of the world.” The stakes were high, Truman noted. Twice in the past 30 years, the world’s leaders had failed to avoid bloodshed. “This Charter points down the only road to enduring peace,” Truman proclaimed. “There is no other.” On August 8, after the Senate ratified the United Nations Charter, President Truman signed it and the United States becomes the first nation to complete the ratification process and join the new international organization. Other nations followed suit, and the Charter went into effect on October 24, 1945.

President Truman was thus instrumental in the commencement of the United Nations. Here is his description of his part in establishing the organization.

Typed letter signed, on his letterhead, Kansas City, November 11, 1955, to Hugh Moore, president of the Dixie Cup Company and a supporter of the United Nations, describing his part in the formation of the organization and hoping its fundraising campaign will be successful.

“In reply to your letter of the fifth, I am inclined to go along with you on a contribution to the campaign fund for the United Nations Tenth Anniversary, but I just can’t afford it. I now belong to the great army of the unemployed, and the calls on me for this sort of thing are so great that it is impossible to meet them.

“If you remember, I ordered the United Nations Conference to take place. That order was made on the evening of April 12, 1945. I opened the Conference with a message, and I closed it with a speech. I dedicated the United Nations Building in New York, and just a short time ago I appeared in San Francisco to make a Tenth Anniversary speech. I am reminding you of all these things to show you in what high regard I hold the United Nations and I sincerely hope that your Tenth Anniversary campaign with be a success.”

Fascinating, this being the only letter of Truman articulating his part in the establishment of the United Nations that we can recall seeing.