United Nations | Images of Old Hawaiʻi

The United Nations was formed, in part, to win a war (WWII.)

Representatives of 26 countries fighting the German, Italian and Japanese Axis, decided to affirm their support by signing the Declaration of the United Nations.

This document pledged the signatory governments to the maximum war effort and bound them against making a separate peace. (UN)

In part, the Declaration states, “Being convinced that complete victory over their enemies is essential to defend life, liberty, independence and religious freedom, and to preserve human rights and justice in their own lands as well as in other lands, and that they are now engaged in a common struggle against savage and brutal forces seeking to subjugate the world.”

“Each Government pledges itself to employ its full resources, military and economic, against those members of the Tripartite Pact (Germany, Italy and Japan) and its adherents with which such government is at war.” (Declaration by UN)

But the UN does not intervene in the members’ domestic issues. “Nothing contained in the present Charter shall authorize the United Nations to intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state …”

“… or shall require the Members to submit such matters to settlement under the present Charter; but this principle shall not prejudice the application of enforcement measures under Chapter VII.” (UN Charter, Chapter 1, Article 2)

The Charter of the United Nations was signed on June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, at the conclusion of the United Nations Conference on International Organization.

The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, when the Charter was ratified by China, France, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, United States and by a majority of other signatories. (UN)

Some have cited the United Nations and its ‘Non-Self-Governing Territory’ listing and process as the means to Hawaiian self-determination.

One even suggested that “In 1954 the UN tendered independence to Hawai‘i under the Decolonization Act”. But searching the UN documents did not verify this; and repeated requests for documentation from the one who made the statement were denied (so that scenario appears not likely.)

“Members of the United Nations which have or assume responsibilities for the administration of territories whose peoples have not yet attained a full measure of self-government recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount …”

“… and accept as a sacred trust the obligation to promote to the utmost, within the system of international peace and security established by the present Charter, the well-being of the inhabitants of these territories”.

Members commit “to transmit regularly to the Secretary-General for information purposes, subject to such limitation as security and constitutional considerations may require, statistical and other information of a technical nature relating to economic, social and educational conditions in the territories for which they are respectively responsible other than those territories to which Chapters XII and XIII apply.”

In 1946, the eight Administering Powers (Australia, Belgium. Denmark, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States) submitted a total of 74 countries to be listed as Non-Self-Governing Territories under Chapter XI of the Charter.

These territories under Chapter XI were administered by the Allied powers before the war, and do not include the countries ruled by the Axis powers (German, Italy and Japan) before the war. Those territories fell under what was called a “Trusteeship,” and listed under Articles XII and XIII of the Charter.

Listed as non-self-governing territories under the jurisdiction of the United States were Hawai‘i, Alaska, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

According to UN General Assembly Resolution 1541 (XV), a non-self-governing territory “can be said to have reached a full measure of self-government by: (a) Emergence as a sovereign independent State; (b) Free association with an independent State; or (c) Integration with an independent State.”

By the end of World War II, the political status of many countries remained unresolved. An important factor in the creation of the United Nations in 1945 was to determine what was going to happen to the territories which had been acquired by the larger powers – and some smaller powers. This was the beginning of the era of decolonization. (Corbin)

Over time, some UN member countries notified the UN of changes in status of Non-Self-Governing territories under their control. Sometimes, these territories obtained independent status; sometimes, they achieved integration with another country. (Corbin)

UN records note that Martinique and Guadeloupe had ‘Change of Status’ in 1947 and were removed from the UN listing. (UN) First sighted by Columbus on his initial expedition in 1493, Martinique played host to its first European “tourists” in 1502 when Columbus landed there during his fourth voyage.

Dubbed Martinique by Columbus, the island was inhabited by Carib Indians who had driven away the Arawaks who, like themselves, had come to the island from South America.

Martinique and Guadeloupe were claimed by France in 1635 and officially annexed in 1674. In 1946, Martinique became a Department of France and in 1974 a Region of France, its current status. (Martinique, Minahan)

“In the period from 1953-1969, the General Assembly, having examined the information transmitted in accordance with resolution 222 (III), approved the cessation of information on six territories.”

“In the order of the decisions taken, they were, under resolution 748 (VIII) of 27 November 1953, Puerto Rico, which became a Commonwealth associated with the United States …”

“… under resolution 849 (IX) of 22 November 1954, Greenland, which was integrated with Denmark; under resolution 945 (X) of 15 December 1955, Netherlands Antilles (originally listed as Curacao) and Surinam, which became self-governing parts of the Netherlands …”

“… and, under resolution 1469 (XIV) of 12 December 1959, Alaska and Hawai‘i, which were integrated with the United States. (UN)

With respect to Hawai‘i, “The General Assembly … Having received from the Government of the United States of America communications dated 2 June 1959 and 17 September 1959 informing the Secretary-General that Alaska and Hawai‘i, respectively …”

“… have, as a result of their admission into the United States as the forty-ninth and fiftieth States, attained a full measure of self-government and that, as a consequence of this change in their constitutional status, the United States Government would cease to transmit information under Article 73 (e) of the Charter in respect of Alaska and Hawaii”.

“Bearing in mind the competence of the General Assembly to decide whether a Non-Self-Governing Territory has or has not attained a full measure of self-government as referred to in Chapter XI of the Charter …”

“… Considers that, owing to the circumstances mentioned above, the declaration regarding Non-Self-Governing Territories and the provisions established under it in Chapter XI of the Charter can no longer be applied to Alaska and Hawaii…”

“… Considers it appropriate that the transmission of information in respect of Alaska and Hawaii under Article 73 (e) of the Charter should cease.” (UN Resolution 1469 (XIV))

The UN General Assembly concluded that since Hawai‘i joined the United States as a state in 1959 it was no longer designed as a Non-Self-Governing Territory.

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Washington,_D.C._Representatives_of_26_United_Nations_at_Flag_day_ceremonies_in_the_White_House_to_reaffirm_their_pact.

States first established international organizations to cooperate on specific matters. The International Telecommunication Union was founded in 1865 and the Universal Postal Union was established in 1874.

In 1899, the International Peace Conference was held in The Hague to elaborate instruments for settling crises peacefully, preventing wars and codifying rules of warfare. It adopted the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes and established the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which began work in 1902.

The League of Nations, conceived during the first World War and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles, was established “to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security.” (The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War.)

On January 1, 1942, representatives of 26-Allied nations fighting against the Axis Powers met in Washington, DC to pledge their support for the Atlantic Charter by signing the “Declaration by United Nations”. This document contained the first official use of the term “United Nations”, which was suggested by US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. (UN)

The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, when the Charter was ratified by the five permanent members of the Security Council (China, France, the Soviet Union, United Kingdom and United States) and the majority of other signatories.

The United Nations was founded by 51 countries as an international organization committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights. (UN)

The UN needed a home.

At the height of world capital search in late-1945, the United Nations and newspaper accounts typically reported that between thirty and fifty suggestions for the headquarters site had been received.

The range and scope of proposals indicated the previously unexplored public fascination with the prospect of creating a “capital of the world” and offered a source base for investigating the evolving relationship between local, regional and national identity, and global consciousness. (Capital of the World)

Hawaiʻi got caught up in this, as well.

At the July 4, 1945 meeting of the National Governor’s Association, Hawaiʻi Governor Ingram M Stainback was successful in amending the group’s motion “we respectfully invite and urge all of you to use your good offices to locate the headquarters and capitol site of the United Nations organization at some place within the continental United States of America.”

Stainback noted, “I think Hawaiʻi would be a good place to locate the headquarters and suggest the word ‘continental’ be removed.” (His amendment passed unanimously.) (NGA)

Folks in Hawaiʻi then got to work and Governor Stainback initiated a campaign to attract the UN to Honolulu. In contrast to other contenders, who stressed their proximity to world capitals, the Hawaiians stressed the advantages of being “far enough removed from any of the potentially explosive situations of the world.” (Capital of the World)

“A resolution adopted by the Hawaiian Senate emphasized that Hawaiʻi is especially appropriate for UNO headquarters because it is the home of Pearl Harbor, whose treacherous bombing brought the United States into the war and gave the world a symbol of unity of action.” (Herald Harper, November 23, 1945)

“The decision to propose Hawaiʻi as the permanent site of the United Nations Capitol was made relatively late, after other cities (nearly 250-across the US) had prepared elaborate campaigns to ‘sell’ themselves. However, a highly effective presentation was prepared and shipped to London by Hawaiʻi’s committee”. (Dye)

“A huge book presenting Hawaiʻi’s invitation, the most comprehensive yet presented, signed by IM Stainback, Governor of the Territory, and Hawaiʻi’s leading businessmen and industrialists, has been received in London for consideration by the UNO’s preparatory commission.” (Herald Harper, November 23, 1945)

“The huge volume was sent with an attractive cover with a tapa cloth and flower lei design and a decorative map emphasizing Hawaiʻi’s central location in the Pacific. It was mounted on a wooden standard for ease in reading. The word ‘Hawaiʻi’ was spelled out on the cover in letters hard-carved of wood.” (Dye).

The site of the Hawaiʻi proposal? … Waimanalo.

However, the dream of the UN moving its sweet home to Nalo Town was short-lived.

A site committee of the United Nations Preparatory Commission voted after two hours of bitter debate to locate the permanent headquarters of UNO in the Eastern US. (United Press, December 22, 1945)

In the end, they picked New York. A last-minute offer of $8.5-million by John D Rockefeller, Jr, for the purchase of the present site was accepted by a large majority of the General Assembly on December 14, 1946. New York City completed the site parcel by additional gifts of property. (UN)

The cornerstone was laid on October 24, 1949; the United Nations headquarters in New York is made up of four main buildings: the Secretariat, the General Assembly, Conference Area (including Council Chambers) and the Library.

The tallest of the group, consists of 39 stories above ground and three stories underground. The exterior facings of the 550-foot tall Secretariat Building are made exclusively of aluminum, glass and marble. (UN)

This was not the first lost-opportunity for international awareness. In early-visioning for the home of the UN, President Franklin D Roosevelt “thought that the Secretariat of the organization might be established at Geneva, but that neither the Council nor the Assembly meetings should be held there.”

“He believed that the Assembly should meet in a different city each year, and that the Council should have perhaps two regular meeting places, one being in the Azores in the middle of the Atlantic and the other on an island in the Hawaiian group in the middle of the Pacific.”

“He felt that locating the Council in the Azores or the Hawaiian Islands would bring the benefit of detachment from the world. Being at heart a naval man, he liked the perspective obtained from surveying the world from an island out at sea.”

“(Roosevelt) had been eager, in the later thirties, to promote a meeting of the heads of nations on a battleship or on such an island as Niʻihau.”

The image shows a portion of a newspaper graphic showing Waimanalo as Hawaiʻi’s UN home proposal. In addition, I have included other related images in a folder of like name in the Photos section on my Facebook and Google+ pages.

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