Early in the World War II, the representatives of 9 countries fled to London. These leaders had been driven out of their homes by the Nazi regime. The Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the Government of Belgium, the Provisional Czechoslovak Government, the Governments of Greece, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Nonvay, Poland and Yugoslavia, and the Representatives of General de Gaulle, leader of Free Frenchmen met in London several times with the regard to a proposal to establish an international organisation which would aim to maintain international peace and security.
On the fateful day of June 12, 1941, a declaration pledging to work for an independent and secure world was signed by these nations/ representatives. Since all signatories were a part of the Allied block, the declaration came to be known as the 'Inter- Allied Declaration'. That day when the signatories signed the declaration, little did they know that they had just taken the first step towards the founding of a legacy that were to later step out of the shadow of the failure of its predecessor, the League of Nations, and become a hallmark of peace and security for all even 71 years later. That legacy is today known as the United Nations.
In a time of secret treaties and pacts, the nations went a step ahead of everyone by pledging to not sign any other peace document than the Inter- Allied Declaration. The declaration stated that "The only true basis of enduring peace is the willing cooperation if free peoples in a world in which, relieved of the menace of aggression, all may enjoy economic and social security...". Leaving no room for ambiguity, the leaders said that it was "their intention to work together, and with other free peoples both in war and peace". The meeting also developed a broad consensus among the signatories concerning the possibility of action against German political and military leaders were the Allies to prove victorious. The declaration committed to "...the punishment, through the channel of organised justice, of those guilty of or responsible for" crimes committed against the signatories.
Only ten days later, on 22 July 1941, Adolf Hitler launched his attack against the Soviet Union. Code named 'Barbarossa', it was the largest German military operation in the World War II.
Sources:
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/imt/imtjames.asp
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/history/1941-1950.shtml
http://unyearbook.un.org/1946-47YUN/1946-47_P1_CH1.pdf
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005164
On the fateful day of June 12, 1941, a declaration pledging to work for an independent and secure world was signed by these nations/ representatives. Since all signatories were a part of the Allied block, the declaration came to be known as the 'Inter- Allied Declaration'. That day when the signatories signed the declaration, little did they know that they had just taken the first step towards the founding of a legacy that were to later step out of the shadow of the failure of its predecessor, the League of Nations, and become a hallmark of peace and security for all even 71 years later. That legacy is today known as the United Nations.
In a time of secret treaties and pacts, the nations went a step ahead of everyone by pledging to not sign any other peace document than the Inter- Allied Declaration. The declaration stated that "The only true basis of enduring peace is the willing cooperation if free peoples in a world in which, relieved of the menace of aggression, all may enjoy economic and social security...". Leaving no room for ambiguity, the leaders said that it was "their intention to work together, and with other free peoples both in war and peace". The meeting also developed a broad consensus among the signatories concerning the possibility of action against German political and military leaders were the Allies to prove victorious. The declaration committed to "...the punishment, through the channel of organised justice, of those guilty of or responsible for" crimes committed against the signatories.
Only ten days later, on 22 July 1941, Adolf Hitler launched his attack against the Soviet Union. Code named 'Barbarossa', it was the largest German military operation in the World War II.
Sources:
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/imt/imtjames.asp
http://www.un.org/en/aboutun/history/1941-1950.shtml
http://unyearbook.un.org/1946-47YUN/1946-47_P1_CH1.pdf
http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005164
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