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1. Introduction to the U.N. Charter

“We the peoples of the U.N. determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sufferings to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental rights, in the dignity 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 neighbours, 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 forces shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of economic and social advancement of all peoples, have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims.”

2. How the U. N. came into existence

The name “United Nations” is accredited to U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the first group of representatives of member states met and signed a declaration of common intent on New Year’s Day 1942. Representatives of five powers worked together to draw up proposals, completed at Dumbarton Oaks in 1944. These proposals, modified after deliberation at the conference on International Organization in San Francisco which began in April 1945, were finally agreed on and signed as the U.N. Charter by 50 countries on 26 June 1945. Poland, not represented at the conference, signed the Charter later and was added to the list of original members. It was not until that autumn, however, after the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the U.S.S.R., the U.K. and the U.S. and by a majority of participants that the U.N. officially came into existence. The date was 24 October, now universally celebrated as United Nations Day.

3. Essential functions of the U.N.

The essential functions of the U.N. are to maintain international peace and security, to develop friendly relations among nations, to cooperate internationally in solving international economic, social, cultural, and human problems, promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedom and to be a center for coordinating the actions of nations in attaining these common ends.

4. Six major organs of the U.N.

The General Assembly, The Security Council, The Economic and Social Council, The Trusteeship Council, The International Court of Justice, and The Secretariat.

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1. The United Nations:联合国
2. Franklin Delano Roosevelt ([5rEuzEvelt])(1882-1945):32nd U.S. president (1933-1945)罗斯福
3. the Allies([TI`AlaIz]):第二次世界大战中的同盟国
4. Winston Churchill([`tF\:tFIl])(1874-1965):Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, British Prime Minister(1940-1945 and 1951-1955)邱吉尔
5. Joseph Stalin (1879-1953):Premier of the former Soviet Union, Supreme Commander of the Red Army 斯大林
6. The U.N.Charter:联合国宪章
7. The World Health Organization: 世界卫生组织
8. Geneva ( [dVI5ni:vE]): 日内瓦 Switzerland ([`swItsElEnd]):瑞士
9. the International Court of Justice: 国际法庭
10. the Hague ([heI^]): 海牙
11. the East River: the east branch of the Hudson River
12. Manhattan ([ mAn`hAtn]): one of the five administrative divisions of New York City 曼哈顿，纽约市五个行政区之一
13. the General Assembly: 联合国大会
14. the Security Council: (联合国)安全理事会
15. is supposed to help: is expected to help
16. is meant to help: is expected to help
17. too weak to do any good: too weak to improve the situation

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