The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 216
200 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN peace is not the ultimate end; it is a very necessary, very essential condition for the achievement of the common good of all of us, and that is that human life everywhere should become fuller, richer and happier. Another thing I noticed to my joyful surprise was that the representatives of these new members exhibited a high sense of responsibility. This did not apply to all individuals; as a matter of fact, it was not true of all individuals even among the representatives of the older members that have been independent and sovereign for centuries. But it was true of enough individuals among the representatives of the new members, to give me a feeling of reassurance. I did not experience a single moment of disappointment over the quality of their representation. On the other hand, I am surprised why this is not more fully recognized. One often hears, "Now that the majority is going to be Afro-Asian, what will happen?" They do not look at what has failed to happen so far: at no time have the Afro-Asians shown any tendency to take the bit between their teeth and to run away with the whole contraption. Look at the major decisions that have been taken. They are still, more or less, along the old pattern. Only the emphasis, as I have said, on certain questions, has shifted. Once the speechifying is done, and the process of give and take, behind the scenes, has run its course, the resolutions that are carried have the concurrence of the major groups in the United Nations. To the extent that that represents a change, it is a healthy change. It means that the older members are beginning to appreciate the point of view of the newer members and thus there is greater understanding and a more eager disposition to co-operate in the pursuit of the objectives and purposes of the United Nations set out in the Charter. Some of us, naturally, have a keener interest in and work harder for certain things; others work harder for other things. It is a sort of division of interests on a basis of understanding, appreciation and co- operation that is beginning to develop. One aspect of the increasing membership is that the younger members of the missions of new members, at the level of counsellor, first secretaries, second secretaries, etc. are the people who will in the next decade be the policy-makers of their own countries. It is a very good and healthy development that they are being trained for those responsibilities in this atmosphere of co-operation and give and take. All this will be reflected through them in the policies of their countries.