Skip to main content

The Problem of the Application of Military Measures by the General Assembly of the United Nations

  • Chapter
Mélanges Offerts À Juraj Andrassy

Abstract

This paper seeks to describe briefly the competence and the practice of the General Assembly of the United Nations in recommending the application of military measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Hans Kelsen. The Law of the United Nations (London 1950) s 2R1

    Google Scholar 

  2. The representative of the United Kingdom, I.C.J. Pleadings, Certain Expenses of the United Nations (Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter), Advisory Opinion of 20 July 1962, p. 342. He did not approve of such broad meaning.

    Google Scholar 

  3. The representative of the United States, I.C.J. Pleadings, Certain Expenses of the United Nations (Article 17, paragraph 2, of the Charter), Advisory Opinion of 20 July 1962, p. 419.

    Google Scholar 

  4. I.C.J. Reports 1962, at 00. 164 and 165.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ibid., at p. 172.

    Google Scholar 

  6. G.A.O.R., 6th Sess., Suppl. No. 13, Report of the Collective Measures Committee, U.N. Doc. A/1891, p. 3, para. 22.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kelsen, op. cit., pp. 14, 281 and 724.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ibid., p. 91.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ibid., p. 294.

    Google Scholar 

  10. See Report in footnote 6, pp. 22–32, paras. 167–263.

    Google Scholar 

  11. This debate took place mainly during the fifth Session of the Assembly, though it recurred also in later years both in the Assembly and in the Security Council. See G.A.O.R., 5th Sess., Ist Cmtte, 354th-371st Mtgs., 9–21 October 1950, pp. 63–174; ibid., Pl., Vol. I, 299th-303rd Mtgs., 1–3 November, pp. 292–347. For writings on the Uniting for Peace resolution

    Google Scholar 

  12. see Hans Kelsen, Recent Trends in the Law of the United Nations (London, 1951), pp. 953–90;

    Google Scholar 

  13. over Robert W. Tucker, „The Interpretation of War under Present International Law, Addendum,” International Law Quarterly, Vol. 4 (1951), pp. 33–8;

    Google Scholar 

  14. Paul H. Douglas, „United to Enforce Peace,” Foreign Affairs, Vol. 30 (1951), pp. 1–16;

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. H. Field Haviland, Jr., The Political Role of the General Assembly (New York, 1951), pp. 156–65;

    Google Scholar 

  16. F. A. Vallat, „The General Assembly and the Security Council of the United Nations,” British Year Book of International Law, Vol. XXIX (1952), at pp. 94–100;

    Google Scholar 

  17. Katzin, „Collective Security : The Work of the Collective Measures Committee,” Annual Review of United Nations Affairs, 1952, p. 206 et seq.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Pierre Brugière, „Les résolutions amendant les pouvoirs de l’Assemblée des Nations Unies pour la sécurité collective,” Revue Générale de Droit International Public, Vol. 57 (1953), pp. 453–76;

    Google Scholar 

  19. Alfred von Verdross, „Idées directrices de l’Organisation des Nations Unies,” Hague Recueil, Vol. 83 (1953-II), at pp. 63–7;

    Google Scholar 

  20. André Rosignol, „Des tentatives effectuées en vue de mettre un nouveau mécanisme de sécurité collective à la disposition de l’Assemblée Générale des Nations Unies et de leur inconstitutionalité,” Revue Générale de Droit Inter-National Public, Vol. 58 (1954), pp. 94–129;

    Google Scholar 

  21. Leland M. Goodrich and Anne P. Simons, The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security (Washington, 1955), pp. 406–23 and 430–3;

    Google Scholar 

  22. Pierre-F. Brugière, Les pouvoirs de l’Assemblée Générale des Nations Unies en matière politique et de sécurité (Paris, 1955), pp. 395–420;

    Google Scholar 

  23. Juraj Andrassy, „Uniting for Peace,” American Journal of International Law, Vol. 50 (1956), pp. 563–82;

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Fernand van Langenhove, La crise du système de sécurité collective des Nations 1946–1957 (Bruxelles, 1958), pp. 122–40;

    Google Scholar 

  25. Julius Stone, Legal Controls of International Conflicts. A treatise on the Dynamics of Disputes- and War-Law, 2nd Impression with Suppl. (London, 1959), pp. 266–84;

    Google Scholar 

  26. Keith S. Petersen, ”The Uses of the Uniting for Peace Resolution since 1950,” International Organization, Vol. XIII (1959), pp. 219–32;

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. F. A. Vallat, „The Competence of the United Nations General Assembly,” Hague Recueil, Vol. 97 (1959-II), at pp. 261–7;

    Google Scholar 

  28. Leland M. Goodrich, The United Nations (New York, 1959), pp. 176–89;

    Google Scholar 

  29. Inis L. Claude, Jr., „The United Nations and the Use of Force,” International Conciliation, March 1961;

    Google Scholar 

  30. Finn Seyersted, ”United Nations Forces : Some Legal Problems,” British Year Book of International Law, vol. XXXVII (1961), at pp. 370–4;

    Google Scholar 

  31. G. K. Yefimov, ”Voprosy kompetentsii Generalnoy Assambley OON v mezhdunarodnopravovoy doktrine SŠA” (Questions of Competence of the U.N. General Assembly in the American Doctrine of International Law), Soviet Year Book of International Law, 1963, pp. 345–51;

    Google Scholar 

  32. D. W. Bowett, United Nations Forces. A Legal Study of United Nations Practice (London, 1964), pp. 290–8 and 545–51.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Generally relevant on the subject though not dealing in detail with resolution 377 A (V) is Myres S. McDougal and Richard N. Gardner, ”The Veto and the Charter : An Interpretation for Survival,” Yale Law Journal, Vol. 60 (1951), pp. 258–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. This view is also expressed by the Court, I.C.J. Reports 1962, p. 163

    Google Scholar 

  35. Memorandum of the USSR Government, I.C.J. Pleadings, footnote 2, at p. 271. For earlier statements of Soviet and Eastern European representatives, see records cited in footnote 11.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Position of France as digested in G.A.O.R., 20th Sess., Suppl. No. 1 Annual Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization, 16 June 1964 – 15 June 1965, U. N. Doc. A/6001, Corr. 1, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  37. The latter has been amply demonstrated by Kelsen, Recent Trends, pp. 953 et seq.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ibid., p. 962.

    Google Scholar 

  39. G.A.O.R., 15th Sess., 2nd Part, Sp. Pol. Cmtte., 243r d Mtg., 5 April 1961, p. 82, para. 37.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Such doubts, however, were voiced during the discussions on arms embargo to Albania and Bulgaria under resolution 288 A (IV) and to People’s Republic of China under resolution 500 (V).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Ibid., p. 81, para. 22. Haviland, op. cit., p. 111, discusses some adverse effects of the Assembly resolutions on Spain, South Africa, and the peace treaties with Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary, and says : „ [...] it should be a warning to that body not to attempt the impossible. If the Assembly overreaches itself, it creates frustration in its own house and causes a reaction in the opposite direction. Nothing can have a more demoralizing effect upon the whole organization.“

    Google Scholar 

  42. On the latter, see Sydney D. Bailey, The General Assembly of the United Nations. A Study of Procedure and Practice (New York, 1961), p. 253.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Leland M. Goodrich, „Expanding role of the General Assembly. The Maintenance of International Peace and Security,” International Conciliation, May 1951, No. 471, at pp. 280–1.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Inis L. Claude, Jr., Power and International Relations (New York 1962), p. 158.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Inis L. Claude, Jr., ”The Management of Power in the Changing United Nations,” International Organization, Vol. 15 (1961), p. 229. 2 Claude, op. cit., in footnote 22, p. 195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. G.A.O.R., 5th Sess., 1st Cmtte., p. 130. Sir Frank Soskice’s reference to the right of self-defence is quoted by Andrassy, op. cit., p. 574.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Stone, op. cit., p. 273.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Loc. cit., p. 274–5. The passage quoted is on p. 275.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Andrassy, op. cit., p. 562.

    Google Scholar 

  50. G.A.O.R., 5th Sess., Pl., 279th MTG., p. 24–5, 55–6.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Ibid., 1st Cmtte., 354th Mtg., p. 63–5.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Ibid., p. 65, paragraph 19.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Ibid., p. 63, para. 5.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Stone, op. cit., p. 273.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Loc. cit., p. 265. It should be noted that the two quotations come from a writer who defends the constitutionality of resolution 377 A on the basis of Article 51.

    Google Scholar 

  56. G. A .O. R., 5th Sess., Pl., 279th Mtg., p. 25, para. 56.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Ibid., 1st Cmtte., p. 64, para. 15, where he said that bringing into readiness of certain elements of the armed forces of members to serve the United Nations under the resolution would not encroach on the State’s right to use such forces in self-defence, because the Member would be under no binding commitment to put these elements at t he disposal of the United Nations.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Rosalyn Higgins, The Developmental of International Law through the Political Organs of the United Nations (London, New York, Toronto, 1963), p. 227.

    Google Scholar 

  59. With the exception of that part of Article 39 which refers to the right of the Security Council to make recommendations instead of taking measures under Articles 41 and 42. Such recommendations may deal with peace-keeping operations. For the distinction between enforcement functions and peace-keeping operations, see Bowett, op. cit., pp. 267–8.

    Google Scholar 

  60. See ibid., pp. 268–74. Bowett also lists reasons for instituting peace-keeping operations which are not linked to the problem of international peace and security : assistance and relief for national disasters, or prevention of certain crimes.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Summary Study of the Experience Derived from the Establishment and Operation of the Force, U. N. Doc. A/3943, para. 127.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Ibid., para. 16.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Ibid., para. 15.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Ibid., para. 23. For writings regarding UNEF, see Charles Chaumont, „La situation juridique des Etats membres à l’égard de la Force d’Urgence des Nations Unies,” Annuaire Français de Droit International, Vol. IV (1958), pp. 399–440;

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Pierre Poirier, La force internationale d’urgence (Paris, 1962);

    Google Scholar 

  66. Gabriella Rosner, The United Nations Emergency Force (New York and London, 1963) ; Bowett, op. cit., Chapter 5, and Part Two, passim.

    Google Scholar 

  67. U. N. Doc. 5170, Corr. 1 and Add. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  68. For writings on UNTEA and the Security Force, see John W. Halderman, ”United Nations Territorial Administration and the Development of the Charter,” Duke Law Journal, 1964, at pp. 103–8 and Bowett, op. cit., Chapter 7.

    Google Scholar 

  69. The view of the Netherlands as digested in G.A.O.R., 21st Sess., Suppl. No. 1, An nual Report of the Secretary General on the Work oftheOrganization, U. N. Doc. A/6301, p. 55.

    Google Scholar 

  70. The aims, principles and nature of the peace-keeping operations continue to be subject of discussions in the organs of the United Nations, particularly the Special Committee on Peace-Keeping Operations. See G.A .O.R., 19th Sess., Annex No. 21 ; ibid., 20th Sess., Annexes, Agenda Item 101; and U. N. Docs. A/AC.121.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1968 Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Skubiszewski, K. (1968). The Problem of the Application of Military Measures by the General Assembly of the United Nations. In: Mélanges Offerts À Juraj Andrassy. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-5602-6_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-5602-6_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-015-4248-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-5602-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics