From Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the File of Margorie Whiteman, Her Chief Legal Advisor

Topics include loyalty to promises made to the British, women’s rights, President Truman, rights tied to citizenship, and much more

 

Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights:

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was established in 1946 to weave an international legal fabric to protect fundamental rights and freedoms. It was charged with examining, monitoring, and publicly reporting on human rights situations in specific countries as well as on major human rights violations worldwide. It also acted as a forum where countries large and small, non-governmental groups and human rights defenders from around the world could voice their concerns. It met for the first time in January 1947.

In 1946, Eleanor Roosevelt was appointed as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations by President Harry Truman, who had succeeded to the White House after the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945. Of accepting, she wrote, “When I was offered an opportunity to serve on the United Nations organization, I accepted it. I did this … because it seemed as though I might be able to use the experiences of a lifetime, and make them valuable to my nation and to the people of the world … I knew, of course, how much my husband hoped that, out of the war, an organization for peace would really develop. It was not just to further my husband’s hopes, however, that I agreed to serve in this particular way. It was rather that I myself had always believed that women might have a better chance to bring about the understanding necessary to prevent future wars if they could serve in sufficient number in these international bodies.”

In 1947 she became the American representative and Chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. She proved to be the driving force in creating and formulating the 1948 charter of liberties which will always be her legacy: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She wanted the declaration to include basic principles of individual liberty on the order of the United States Bill of Rights, but she believed the new declaration must be written in such a way so as to be sensitive and acceptable to all religions, cultures, and ideologies. She also insisted that the language of the declaration be brief and simple so that all people could understand it. She submitted the Declaration to the United Nations General Assembly with these words: “We stand today at the threshold of a great event both in the life of the United Nations and in the life of mankind. This declaration may well become the international Magna Carta for all men everywhere.” It was adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948.

She continued her work hoping to expand the Declaration, but progress was very slow up to the time her term as U.S. Delegate to the United Nations ended in December 1952. It took until 1966, four years after her death, for the UN General Assembly to adopt an international covenant or covenants enlarging the scope of international human rights.

A 1927 graduate of Yale Law School, Margorie Whiteman was a friend and adviser to Mrs. Roosevelt on the United Nations Human Rights Commission from 1947-1952. She was usually found seated directly behind Mrs. Roosevelt during meetings. Her greatest contribution to international law was the completion of a “Digest of International Law” in 1969. This fifteen-volume work served as a leading resource on international law for government officials and scholars.

This is Margorie Whiteman’s file of papers relating to Eleanor Roosevelt, mainly on the business of the Commission. When Tommy is referred to in these papers, she is Malvina Thompson, who was ER’s trusted assistant, secretary, traveling companion, gatekeeper, and friend.

The group includes:

There is a typed letter on Roosevelt’s Val-Kill Cottage letterhead to Whiteman, dated March 4, 1950, signed by Roosevelt, saying in part: “I too look forward to our work on the Human Rights Commission.” On her Office Memorandum United Nations Mission letterhead is a typed note about her upcoming meeting with President Truman. Dated simply May 6, the year is 1952, according to Truman’s appointment schedule. “Miss Thompson called to say that your appointment with the President tomorrow is at 12:30 – the only time it could be made. She would like to know if you wish her to let Secretary Lovett [Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett] know that you will be a few minutes late.” ER writes, “Yes tell Tommy to let him know she won’t get there until quarter of 1.”

Peng-chun Chang was Vice-Chair of the Commission on Human Rights. There is a holograph note about him chairing a meeting of the Commission, “Could you ask that Chang, be asked to preside next Monday afternoon & all day Tuesday. Tomorrow will do to ask this.” Another note states her point on rights and citizenship, saying that “Citizens may not be born citizens [of] nations then a country.” Whiteman writes, “I would not discuss this.” Whiteman notes about a dispute over the language of a position on colonies, saying a member “has gotten cold feet about including the colonial paragraph in the Resolution. Jim Green and I disagree. We can’t let the British down after all our assurances…” At the bottom ER agrees with Whiteman, saying if opponents want it out, they’ll have to get the votes and vote it out: “We should I think keep in & have it voted out.” On a note all in her hand, ER writes, “Egypt rights obligations; the judgment must be made in public in interest of good conduct…” She then tells Whiteman, “Admiral Nimitz seems to be having trouble with his papers. Perhaps he does not have 2/CU, 4/253. Would you see and help him out?” On a sheet headed “Covenant protocol”, Roosevelt lists Guatemala and Denmark as “signatory” and USSR as “non-signatory.” Other countries are listed, and seemingly crossed out when their positions were known.

On the verso of a note from Whiteman saying that a Bill of Human Rights, to be legally binding in the US, must be approved by the treaty process, Roosevelt writes, “But it was not cast in treaty form, i.e. it had to be ratified. Australia says a bill in domestic field is a law. I said when passed subject to decision or interpretation but in international must be cast in convention or treaty, is that correct?”

Whiteman writes on another note, “If Chile amendment to French text is approved, we would text vote against the French text thus amended.” On the verso, ER writes travel plans, “Please call Tommy & ask her to get C.R. Coates office & ask his secretary…what flight will go there to Dallas on Monday & ask Tuesday around 10 am.” On Whiteman’s note about news released to the Associated Press, Roosevelt says “Better be given…” To a query about whether ER wants to take confidential communications with her over the weekend, or Whiteman asks, “Do you desire that I examine them prior to the Monday morning meeting of the Subcommittee?” The response is “Please examine them. I’ll never have time.” On a sheet telling Roosevelt “You are 5th on the list of speakers, immediately after Brazil”, ER needs a pen for note-taking and says, “My pen has run out. Have you a pen?”

On an invitation to dinner from her advisors, Roosevelt says she can’t make it because her son Elliot is there and they have other dinner plans. On another note, Whiteman asks, “Does your appointment with Mrs. Parish still stand?” Roosevelt responds, “Please call say I can’t be there. Call Tommy & ask her to do.” On another note, ER asks Whiteman to make a lunch engagement for her, and continues, “Will you all four have dinner with me about seven tonight? I take the nine pm train but there will be plenty fo time. Would you like to come to Hyde Park next Friday to Sunday evening before you go home?”

There is also a retained copy of a letter Whiteman sent to ER, dated March 1, 1950, in response to Roosevelt’s request for advice on a remark made by Matilda Fenberg, chair of the National Association of Women Lawyers, that provoked a firestorm, that an American representative at the Bogota Conference on Civil Rights for Women in 1948 had claimed that the U.S. could not sign the treaty because the US Constitution did not give women civil rights, but required a constitutional amendment to do so. ER wanted an opinion as to whether there was any merit in that position, as it would affect her work. Whiteman thought not.

An interesting group relating to Eleanor Roosevelt’s great achievement as American representative and Chair of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.