CHANGING ROLES OF UNITED NATIONS ORGANS
There is little question that the General Assembly has played a larger role in the processes of peaceful settlement of disputes than would have been predicted in 1945. The big power, who dominated the determination of the basic formulas for the new organization in Dumbarton Oaks and San Francisco, tried to establish the preeminent position of the Security Council in handling disputes. They looked upon the Security Council as an organ designed to perform this one paramount function. They attempted to secure the superior position of the Council over the Assembly by conferring upon the Council “primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,” by making Council decisions legally binding on all members, and by prohibiting the General Assembly from making recommendation on any dispute or situation while the matter is under Security Council consideration. By a number of devices the General Assembly has extended its involvement into this Security Council domain. These devices include generous interpretation of Assembly power and functions as stated in the Charter and the adoption of special expedients such as an Interim Committee and the Uniting for Peace Resolution. The Uniting for Peace Resolution has served as a basis for calling nine emergency special sessions of the General Assembly, each of which dealt with a dispute that the Security Council was unable to resolve. In addition, five of the eighteen General Assembly special sessions called under the regular Charter provisions for such sessions were also concerned with disputes or situation that could possibly threaten international peace and security.