Episode 187: The Signing of The UN Charter

By the end of June, 1945 delegates from all over the world had spent weeks drafting and debating over the finalized version of the United Nation Charter. On June 26th, 1945 the last session and signing of the UN Charter was held in San Francisco. President Truman attended the conference and gave a speech where he addressed the positivity that would come from the signing and referred to it as a "great instrument for peace".

Episode Transcript

(00:03):
Welcome to World War Two chronicles aweekly tribute to America's fighting men and women
in commemoration of the Second World War. These programs are narrated by Ed Hrlihy
and are based on the news broadcastsof the war period from the recorded sound
collection of the National Archives in Washington, d C. Fellow delegates. The

(00:29):
President of the United States of America. During the week of June twenty sixth,
nineteen forty five, Harry Truman travelsto San Francisco for an update on
action in the Pacific, meeting withadmir Rochester Nimitz in his hotel. But

(00:49):
there is another matter demanding the President'simmediate attention. The last session of the
United Nations Conference, where he witnessesfifty nations signed a charter marking new hope
for an era of global peace.First to sign is China, then Russia,
Great Britain and France. A Charterof the United Nations which you are

(01:12):
now signing is a solid structure uponwhich we can build for a better world.
History will honor you for it.Between the victory and Europe and the
final victory in Japan, in thismost destructive of all wars, you have

(01:33):
won a victory against war itself.If we had had this charter a few
years ago, and above all thewill to use it, millions now dead
would be alive. If we shouldfalter in the future in our will to
use it, millions now living willsurely die. US Secretary of State Edward

(01:56):
Stutinius signs the charter for this country, one of his last acts while holding
that office. President Truman continued,what you have accomplished in San Francisco shows
how well these lessons of military andeconomic cooperation have been learned. You have
created a great instrument for peace andsecurity and human progress in the world.

(02:23):
The world must now use it.With this charter, the world can begin
to look forward to the time whenall worthy human beings may be permitted to
live decently as free people. I'min HERLIHI join me next time for World

(02:44):
War Two Chronicles. World War TwoChronicles was produced by the American Veteran Center
and Radio America in cooperation with theNational Archives. To listen to more episodes,
subscribe on iTunes or visit American VeteransCenter dot org. We need your

(03:04):
help to keep the legacy of ourWorld War two generation alive. Visit American
Veterans Center dot org to make adonation to support World War Two chronicles and
the ongoing work of the American VeteransCenter.