The Veto

A difference in the new proposals as compared with the League is that the five main powers have special powers and responsibilities including the power of veto. This is a great step forward from the League in which there were fifty states, all with the power of veto, but ideally and as a long term policy, we must regret the retention of the veto.

While sympathising with the desire of the small powers to have a say in their fate, we must realise, as citizens of a small power, that security depends on the major powers under the present system. The power of any one of the big five to veto the action of the whole organisation has, however, the weakness that, ff one of these powers started a war, the security organisation could not act because the aggressor power could veto any proposed action.