Story: Cold War

Signing the UN Charter

Signing the UN Charter

The United Nations was set up in 1945 to provide a forum where countries might settle differences before they led to war. It was seen as one way that erstwhile wartime allies – Britain, the United States and the Soviet Union – might work cooperatively to shape the world after the Second World War. Here New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser (seated) prepares to sign the United Nations Charter on 26 June 1945. Fraser thought it had defects but the alternative of no agreement was far worse. 

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, War History Collection (DA-01514)
Reference: PAColl-5547-071

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Gerald Hensley, 'Cold War - Cold War beginnings, 1945 to 1948', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/32690/signing-the-un-charter (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gerald Hensley, published 20 Jun 2012