Page 4084 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 24 October 1990
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United Nations Day
MR STEFANIAK (4.31): I, too, rise to acknowledge United Nations Day. Like Mr Connolly, I think that for the first time since the beginning of the Korean War we have some real hope for the United Nations. It, of course, superseded the League of Nations, which was a very discredited body which had no power. It was trampled over and its weakness was shown when the Japanese invaded Manchuria in 1931 and, again, when the Italians invaded Abyssinia in 1935. It was shown to be quite powerless - a sham.
Unfortunately, in its history, the United Nations too, because of super-power tensions, has been shown to be a sham. Indeed, a number of times the Soviet Union, at its aggressive worst until recent years, exercised its veto, especially in the Security Council, and showed just how much of a sham the UN could be. It has done some positive things, though, and now we have the real opportunity that Mr Connolly has alluded to, for the United Nations to be the world unifying force that people hoped it would be at the end of the very devastating World War II.
With relations between the two major super-powers, the USA and the Soviet Union, not only thawing but actually being quite friendly, for the first time since its inception, we have a real chance for the UN to be a very positive body and a very influential body in the world. I was delighted to see the action the UN very quickly took in support of efforts by most of its member states to counter Iraqi aggression in the Persian Gulf. I think the future augurs quite well for the United Nations because of the breakdown of super-power tension, and certainly any steps that can be taken for "jaw jaw" rather than "war war" in the world have to be encouraged. I think this is probably one of the most encouraging anniversaries of the UN. Let us hope that it can really be a unifying force and live up to its early promise.
United Nations Day
MR JENSEN (4.33): I would like to make some brief comments in relation to the UN. I would like to take a slightly different angle, in view of my previous background in the military service. I would like to comment on those members of the Australian armed forces who have served with various organised UN forces. I will start with those who served in the Korean War as part of the UN force there. Many, of course, did not return to Australia, and I think it is important to recognise their role and their sacrifice in that area and the sacrifice of their families.
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