Law of War Handbook 2005

THE UNITED NATIONS AND LEGAL BASES FOR THE

USE OF FORCE

REFERENCES

1. U.N. Charter


2. Treaty Providing for the Renunciation of War as an Instrument of National Policy (Kellogg-
   Briand Pact), done at Paris, August 27, 1928,46 Stat. 2343, T.S. No. 796,2 Bevans 732, L.N.T.S.
   57


3. Agreement for the Prosecution and Punishment of the Major War Criminals of the European
   Axis Powers and Charter of the International Military Tribunal (Nurernburg Charter), done at
   London, August 8, 1945,59 Stat. 1544, 82 U.N.T.S. 279


4. U.N. General Assembly Resolution 337(V), Uniting for Peace, 5 U.H. GAOR Supp. (No. 20) 10
   (1950)


5. U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2625, Declaration on Principles of International Law
   Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation Among States in Accordance with the Charter of
   the United Nations, 25 U.H. GAOR Supp. (No. 28) 121 (1970).


6. U.N. General Assembly Resol~~tion 3314, Definition of Aggression, 29 U.H. GAOR Supp. (No
   31) 142 (1974).

I. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND I

A. Just War Theory: 335 B.C. to 1800 A.D.

1. A moral/philosophical approach that approved of a resort to force if the cause
   was L'just".

B. State Sovereignty ("War as Fact" Era): 1800-1 9 18

1. War as an instrument of national policy. As sovereigns, states are free to
   employ force as a normal element of their foreign relations.

C. International Law (Early attempts to regulate the resort to force.)

1. Hague (1899 and 1907): Required a declaration of war.


2. League of Nations (1 9 19): Attempt at a collective security system.


3. The Kellogg-Briand Pact (1928).

' See Chapter 1 "History for the Law of War" for a more in-depth discussion of the historical trends briefly
touched upon in this chapter.