WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignify and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom, AND FOR THESE ENDS to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, HAVE RESOLVED TO COMBINE OUR EFFORTS TO ACCOMPLISH THESE AIMS.

A Brief History of the United Nations With World War II still in progress, fifty nations of the world met in San Francisco and on June 26, 1945, drew up the Charter of the United Nations. The first meetings of the General Assembly and of the Security Council were held in London, January 1946, and Trygve Lie was appointed first Secretary-General. While assembled at their temporary headquarters at Lake Success, N. Y., the Genera] Assembly accepted a $8,500,000 gift of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to purchase land for a Permanent Headquarters. In 1948, at the 3rd session of the Genera] Assembly in Paris, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was proclaimed. This "standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations" embodied the Four Freedoms along with many other standards of human dignity. An example of its effect may be judged by the following: while 12 members of the UN still do not allow their women to vote, 26 other members have given this right to women since signing the UN Charter. On September 14, 1948, excavations began for the new Headquarters and, on August 18, 1950, the staff began to move into the Permanent Headquarters which we are now to visit. The Permanent Headquarters of Your United Nations

View-Master Reel 420-A 1. THE UNITED NATIONS FROM WELFARE ISLAND Once the hunting ground for the Algonquin Indians and more recently six blocks of New York's crowded Manhattan Island, this eighteen acres is now owned by the peoples of the world. Gifts from Rockefeller and the city of New York, a $65 million, interest free loan from the U.S.A., and contributions from almost every nation of the world has made possible this UN home. A hopeful sign of progress in the affairs of nations is the fact that the International Board of Design, comprising architects of 11 nationalities and headed by William K. Harrison (noted for his Rockefeller Center buildings, reached agreement on the 53rd building plan. Twenty-five years earlier, the League of Nations' architects could agree only after drawing 577 sets of plans! The 39-story skyscraper is the Secretariat Building, the low, sweeping building is the General Assembly Building, and the 5-story building fronting the East River and partially eclipsed by the freighter's bow is the Conference Building.

2. BIBLICAL INSCRIPTION IN THE UNITED NATIONS PLAZA Carved in stone in the United Nations Plaza are the words of the Prophet Isaiah, II, 4. While no formal prayer precedes the opening of each General Assembly meeting because of the many religions represented, a moment of meditation is observed. Then, and in the severe Meditation Room, the delegates pray, each according to his own religious teachings. Part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, "Everyone has a right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion."

3. THE FLAGS OF MEMBER NATIONS The national emblems of the 76 UN members flank the drive that leads to the Delegates Entrance of the sweeping General Assembly Building. They stand in colorful array in English alphabetical order from Afghanistan to Yugoslavia, the flag nearest us. The United Nations are (dates indicate entry into UN of non-charter members): Afghanistan 1946, Albania 1955, Argentina, Australia, Austria 1955, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria 1955, Burma 1948, Byelorussian SSR, Cambodia 1955, Canada, Ceylon 1955, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Equador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland 1955, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary 1955, Iceland 1946, India, Indonesia 1950, Iran, Iraq, Ireland 1955, Israel 1949, Italy 1955, Jordan 1955, Laos 1955, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya 1955, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nepal 1955, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan 1947, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal 1955, Romania 1955, Saudi Arabia, Spain 1955, Sweden 1946, Syria, Thailand 1946, Turkey, Ukranian SSR, Union of South Africa, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom, U.S.A., Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, and Yugoslavia.

4. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING The work of the United Nations is dedicated to furthering the peace of the world, and to do this the people of the world, as a rule, must be able to see and hear every phase of the workings. The rooms, chambers and auditoriums are designed as stages on which, by television, radio, motion pictures and the reports of the press, the public can keep up with the activities of its representatives. Etc Etc