[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E612-E613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO TRYGVE LIE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Trygve 
Lie, the first Secretary General of the United Nations. Mr. Lie was 
more than an outstanding citizen of Norway and public official, he was 
truly the beacon of light and bedrock of peace for which the world 
yearned in the aftermath of World War II.
  Trygve Lie was born in Oslo, Norway on July 16, 1896. After being 
elected a local Labor Party president at the age of 16, Lie's course in 
politics was set. Following his graduation from the Oslo University Law 
School in 1919, he was appointed Administration Secretary for the 
Norwegian Labor Party. He subsequently became a legal advisor to the 
Trade Union Federations, where Lie honed his skills at conflict 
resolution and negotiation.
  Trygve Lie's distinguished career in government saw him appointed to 
several different ministerial positions, but none more career defining 
than his time spent as Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the German 
invasion of Norway, Mr. Lie's triumph in saving his country's merchant 
fleet led to his appointment as Foreign Affairs Minister while the 
Norwegian government fled to England. This position would prove to be a 
seminal moment in Lie's career, and would elevate his profile 
internationally.
  As Norway's Foreign Minister, Lie was an outspoken advocate of 
international cooperation and a more level political playing field, 
while remaining acutely aware of the responsibilities inherent to the 
then-current world powers.
  Mr. Lie attended the U.N. Conference on International Organizations 
as Head of the Norwegian Delegation in April of 1945, where he also 
served as Chairman of Commission III, which was responsible for 
drafting the Security Council provisions of the U.N. Charter. Lie's 
diplomatic skills and shining abilities as an expert negotiator led to 
his near-unanimous election as the first Secretary-General of the 
United Nations in February 1946.
  In his new position, Trygve Lie faced the unenviable task of uniting 
a world that had been torn apart by the destruction, devastation, and 
hatred of World War II. Despite the

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onset of the Cold War and innumerable other set-backs, Mr. Lie held 
true to his beliefs in the U.N. Charter, the need for peace, and the 
importance of building a new world order. Though his new position 
granted him a great deal of oversight and authority, Lie's vision of 
the U.N. remained one of a body that would primarily act as a mediator 
for the world's conflict and friction.
  During his time as U.N. Secretary-General, Trygve Lie established his 
post as one of honor and dignity that held an internationally 
recognized sphere of influence. His rise to the top position in the 
U.N. illustrated as much about Lie's professionalism and diplomacy as 
did his decision to step down in April 1953. Upon realization that his 
departure could better facilitate peace in Korea and therefore help 
restore international harmony, he graciously offered his resignation. 
His sacrifice for the greater good is seldom seen. Trygve Lie was an 
outstanding contributor to his native Norway and to the international 
community at large. His success in transitioning the global society 
away from a period of seemingly irreparable damage created a legacy of 
peace and hope that should be both commended and emulated.

                          ____________________