The birth of the United Nations in San Francisco
And an explanation for the flags flying over The Fairmont Hotel's entrance
My deep dive on The Fairmont Hotel has given me many great stories about this city from the past century, as well as answers to many questions I had about the hotel itself.
Maybe the most satisfying discovery has been this: the reason why there are so many flags flying above the hotel’s entrance.
I’ve always wondered … and now I know!
So, let me explain.
In April 1945, representatives from 50 countries descended on San Francisco for what would become one of the largest international gatherings ever held.
It was called the “United Nations Conference on International Organization” and it was here that the United Nations was officially born.
By this time, the world was in its final months of World War II. Germany would surrender in May (while the delegates were in San Francisco), and the end of the war would be officially declared in September.
The delegates at this conference— representing more than 80 percent of the world’s population— came with a common goal. They desperately wanted to create a stronger and more effective international organization than anything that had existed before.
The League of Nations, the international organization created after World War I, was seen as a major failure since it had not been successful in preventing another world war.
Although a very diverse group, the delegates invited to San Francisco were united by their common alliance against Germany and Japan and their strong desire to foster and maintain global peace after the atrocities seen in World War II.
They wanted to deliver a different world for future generations and do right by the generations that had now lived, suffered, and sacrificed through multiple wars.
There were 850 delegates, and thousands of staffers, advisers, and media people in San Francisco for the conference. The city was full and bustling, and locals seemed to welcome the important visitors with an air of hope and excitement.
Yet, someone important was very obviously missing.
President Franklin Roosevelt intended to play a major role in all of this. He had been working closely with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on the concept of a new international organization and was heavily invested in the creation of the United Nations, as well as the planning of this conference in San Francisco.
However, he died on April 12th, 1945, just weeks before the conference began.
So, it was his successor, President Harry Truman who opened the conference by radio from Washington, only 13 days into his term. He attempted to rally the room full of delegates behind their common goal— international coordination to preserve peace.
The conference, which consisted of intense negotiation in order to effectively draft and approve a charter for this new organization, took nine weeks. Delegates from all nations were divided up into committees to debate and discuss the details.
The Fairmont was a central hub where delegates stayed, spent time together, and held important and influential meetings surrounding the charter.
The Garden Room in the hotel was an important meeting place for consultants who influenced the charter. A plaque, explaining the significance, is prominently placed outside the door.
The penthouse of The Fairmont was a meeting place for “VIPs” to hash out charter intricacies. Specifically, those representing the “Principal Powers” could be found here.
The five Principal Powers of the conference were the United States, the United Kingdom, the USSR, China, and France.
Ultimately, the United Nations Charter was completed and adopted unanimously on June 25, 1945, at the San Francisco Opera House. It was signed by each nation in the Herbst Theatre the next day.
President Harry Truman was photographed waving outside The Fairmont as he arrived in the city to witness the signing.
It’s important to note that just because the charter was approved and signed in San Francisco, the United Nations did not immediately exist.
Countries had to bring the charter home and have it approved by their individual congresses or parliaments. Only when the Principal Powers and a majority of the other nations had independently ratified the charter, was the United Nations officially established.
This happened on October 24, 1945, which is why that date is still celebrated as “United Nations Day.”
Another note is that while Poland did not have a representative at the San Francisco conference, the country was later admitted as an original member, bringing the total number of countries to 51.
So if, like me, you have ever wondered why there are so many flags above the entrance to The Fairmont, now you know that this conference is why. The hotel takes great pride in its involvement and has flown the flag of every country in attendance ever since.
The Fairmont claims that over the years, visiting dignitaries have requested certain rival flags to be taken down during their stay. However, in the spirit of the United Nations, the hotel says that it always kindly declines.
San Francisco hoped to be home to the United Nations headquarters— and after the conference the city had a pretty good case— but ultimately lost out to New York City.
Sources:
https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/the-fairmont-hotel-san-francisco/history.php
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/history-of-the-un/san-francisco-conference
https://www.fairmont-san-francisco.com/blog/history-of-san-franciscos-most-iconic-hotel/