The Dominican situation demonstrates the impotency of the United Nations in coercing a major power. Although, by any reasonable interpretation, the United States was guilty of violating Articles 15 and 17 of the OAS Charter and the principles of territorial integrity and political independence guaranteed in the United Nations Charter, it was able to gain the acquiescence of a majority of OAS members for a set of substantially supporting its position and actions. Although the United States scrupulously complied with the provisions of Article 54 of the United Nations Charter to keep the Security Council informed of its own and OAS actions, the equally clear mandate of Article 53 that “no enforcement action shall be taken under regional arrangements or by regional without the authorization of the Security Council” was violated. Proposals by the United States for Security Council approval of OAS actions were unacceptable to other Council members. the United States overreacted both to the threat to American lives and to the possibility of Communist takeover in the Dominican Republic and lost credibility and prestige in pressuring OAS members for support.