United Nations Conference on International Organization facts for kids

Quick facts for kids United Nations Conference on International Organization
The special symbol of the conference, which later became the United Nations emblem
Date	25 April 1945 (1945-04-25) – 26 June 1945 (1945-06-26)
Cities	San Francisco, California, U.S.

The United Nations Conference on International Organization (often called UNCIO) was a big meeting. It is also known as the San Francisco Conference. Delegates from 50 Allied nations came together. This meeting happened from April 25 to June 26, 1945, in San Francisco, California, USA.

At this conference, the delegates looked at and changed earlier plans. These plans were made during the Dumbarton Oaks Conference the year before. The meeting led to the creation of the Charter of the United Nations. This important document was ready for signing on June 26, the last day of the conference. The conference took place in different spots, mainly the War Memorial Opera House. The Charter was signed at the Herbst Theatre in the Veterans Building. This building is part of the Civic Center. A nearby area called "UN Plaza" remembers this special conference.

Creating the United Nations

How the Idea Started

After World War II, the Allied countries wanted to build a better world. They had been planning for a long time. In 1941, they shared some ideas in the Declaration of St James's Palace.

US President Franklin Roosevelt had a vision. He imagined four powerful countries leading the world after the war. These were the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China. This idea was called the "Four Policemen." These countries, plus France, would get permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.

Important Meetings Before the Conference

In February 1945, at a meeting in Malta, they suggested that these permanent members should have veto power. This means they could block decisions. This idea was accepted soon after at the Yalta conference. While at Yalta, they started sending invitations for the San Francisco conference.

A total of 46 countries were invited to San Francisco. All of them had declared war on Germany and Japan. They had also signed the Declaration by United Nations.

Who Else Was Invited?

Four more countries were directly invited to the conference. These were Denmark (which had just been freed from Nazi control), Argentina, and two parts of the Soviet Union: Belarus and Ukraine.

Inviting these countries caused some debate. The Soviet Union did not want Argentina to join. They said Argentina had helped the Axis Powers during the war. But several Latin American countries said Belarus and Ukraine should not join unless Argentina did. In the end, Argentina was allowed to join. The United States supported this, and everyone wanted the Soviet Union to be part of the conference.

The Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, had first asked for all parts of the Soviet Union to join the United Nations. But the US government suggested that all US states should join too. This made Stalin agree to only Ukraine and Belarus joining. This was meant to balance power within the United Nations. The Soviets felt the Western countries had more power. So, Belarus and Ukraine changed their laws to allow them to act on the world stage, even while still part of the Soviet Union.

Poland had signed the Declaration by United Nations. But they did not attend the conference. This was because countries could not agree on who should lead Poland after the war. So, a space was left for Poland's signature. A new Polish government was formed after the conference. Poland signed the United Nations Charter on October 15, making it a founding country.

The Conference Begins

The conference started on April 25, 1945, in San Francisco. There were 850 delegates, plus many advisors and staff. In total, about 3,500 people attended. Also, 2,500 media representatives and observers were there.

Earl Warren, the Governor of California, welcomed everyone. He said that our future is connected to the world's future. He explained that understanding each other's problems helps keep peace. He said this conference showed a new idea of being good neighbors and working together.

Remembering President Roosevelt

President Roosevelt was supposed to host the conference. But he sadly died on April 12, 1945. So, on May 19, the delegates held a ceremony to remember him. They met among the tall Redwood trees in Muir Woods National Monument Cathedral Grove. A special plaque was placed there in his honor.

Entrance sign to Muir Woods National Monument

How the Work Was Organized

The conference had several groups to help get the work done:

• The Steering Committee looked at big policy questions. It had 50 members, one from each country's group.
• The Executive Committee was smaller. It made suggestions to the Steering Committee. It had 14 members from the main countries.
• The Coordination Committee helped the Executive Committee. It also checked the final writing of the Charter. It had members from the same 14 countries.
• The Credentials Committee checked that all delegates were properly authorized. It had members from six countries.

Below these main committees, there were four big commissions. These commissions studied the main topics. They also managed the work of twelve smaller technical committees. These technical committees wrote proposals and could create even smaller subcommittees if needed. Leaders for these groups were chosen from all the countries.

What Each Commission Did

• Commission I looked at general rules. It worked on the goals, principles, membership, and how to change the Charter.
• Commission II focused on the General Assembly. This is where all member countries would meet.
• Commission III thought about the Security Council. This group would be in charge of keeping peace.
• Commission IV studied how the legal system would work. This included the International Court of Justice.

A Secretariat helped run the whole conference. They prepared meeting plans, took notes, and provided all the services needed for such a big international meeting.

The United Nations Charter

The plan for the United Nations Charter was split into four parts. Each part was studied by one of the commissions. The first part covered the organization's goals, rules, members, and how to change the Charter. The second part looked at what the General Assembly would do. The third part dealt with the Security Council. The fourth part reviewed the plan for the International Court of Justice. Legal experts from 44 countries had already drafted this plan in Washington in April 1945.

At the conference, delegates reviewed and sometimes rewrote the text. This text had been agreed upon at the Dumbarton Oaks conference. The countries agreed that regional groups could work under the main United Nations "umbrella." They also discussed the duties of the Secretary General. They created the Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council. Everyone eventually agreed on these points.

The Veto Power Debate

One big problem was the veto power for the permanent members of the Security Council. These were the "big five" countries. Many countries worried that if one of these big powers threatened peace, the Security Council could not do anything. They wanted to limit the veto power.

However, the big powers insisted that the veto was very important. They said it was needed for them to take on the big responsibility of keeping world peace. In the end, the big powers got their way.

Signing the Charter

On June 25, the delegates met for the last time at the San Francisco Opera. Lord Halifax, who led the British group, was in charge. When he presented the final Charter, he said it was the most important thing they would ever vote on. He asked those in favor to stand up. All the delegates stood, and so did the crowd. Everyone cheered when Lord Halifax announced that the Charter had been accepted by everyone.

President Truman speaking at the conference

The next day, the delegates signed the Charter. This happened in the Veterans Memorial Hall. China signed first because it was the first country attacked by an Axis power.

US President Harry S. Truman gave a closing speech. He said the Charter was a strong base to build a better world. He told them history would remember them for it. He said they had won a victory against war itself. He also said that the Charter would only work if people around the world were determined to make it work. He warned that if they failed to use it, or used it selfishly, they would betray those who died for peace.

The United Nations did not start right away after the signing. Many countries needed their governments to approve the Charter. It was agreed that the Charter would begin when China, France, Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States, and most of the other signing countries approved it. They also had to tell the US Department of State they had approved it. This finally happened on October 24, 1945.

Countries That Participated

Remembering the Conference

In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly decided to celebrate the conference's 75th anniversary. They announced April 25 as International Delegate's Day. This day honors all the people who represent their countries at international meetings.

See Also

• List of World War II conferences
• History of the United Nations