the international community should simply accept war as inevitable. We thought it vital that the United Nations, as an instrument for resolving conflict and averting war, should be mobilized and brought into play. 140. This was done to good effect. The Secretary- General had already made contacts with the parties -as he has told us-at the beginning of May: and for nearly three weeks now, with enormous patience and skill, he has used his good offices to try to bring about a settlement. During that time my Government has not pressed for a public meeting of the Council, Our aim-to involve the United Nations where other peace efforts had ended-was very well served by the heroic effort of the Secretary-General. At three private informal meetings of the Council in recent weeks, we all joined in giving him our unanimous support and encouragement; and we have heard from time to time from him of the progress of his efforts. 141. Those efforts are now at an’ end. The Sec- retary-General does not think he can go further on the present basis. Ireland has therefore asked for this meeting of the Council-the first such meeting to address itself to the problem since 3 April, 142. We have two reasons for doing so. In the first Place, we felt that the Secretary-General would wish to report to the Council on the long and patient effort which he had made in recent weeks to reach a set- tlement. 143. This in itself. we believe, would justify a public meeting. But we also believe that, at a time of serious and growing conflict, the Council has a duty to meet when other efforts fail to consider if any pos- sibilities remain to stop the conflict. We know well the limitations on action by the Council, Hut we 
**Analysis**
This text appears to be discussing the international community's efforts to resolve a conflict, specifically the role of the United Nations in mediating a settlement. The language used is formal and diplomatic, suggesting a high-level government or international organization document. The focus is on the efforts of the Secretary-General and the United Nations, rather than any specific economic, industrial, or environmental issue.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations