Inside the Palais des Nations
Not a straight line in sight • One of the largest conference rooms in the new wing of the Palais des Nations (built in the 1950s and 60s).
Mealy-mouthed • I saw this sign at several points around the Palais des Nations. I couldn't help but laugh, thinking it quite exemplary of the ultimate impotence of the UN—they can’t even specifically tell delegates not to smoke in their building!
Natural light • The principal assembly-room inside the original Palais des Nations building. There is a large skylight which provides a huge amount of natural light for the room.
![The British Gift to the League of Nations • This large carving sits above the front door inside the Palais des Nations, built 1929–38. It was given to the League of Nations by the British Government. It is hard to imagine that such a defiantly Christian monument would be presented today.
Here are the various texts carved on the piece:
<strong>Left panel:</strong>
‘Nos autem populus ejus et oves pascuae ejus’
—We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100: 3)
<strong>Centre panel:</strong>
‘Quid est homo, quod memor es ejus?’
—What is man, that you are mindful of him? (Psalm 8: 4)
‘Ad imaginem Dei creavit illum’
—In the image of God he created him. (Genesis 1: 27)
‘Thou mastering me
God! giver of breath and bread;
world's strand sway of the sea;
Lord of living and dead;
[Thou hast bound bones and veins in me, fastened me flesh,
And after it almost unmaed, what with dread,
Thy doing: and dost thou touch me afresh?]
Over again I feel thy finger and find thee.’
from <a href="http://www.bartleby.com/122/4.html">The Wreck of the Deutschland</a>, by Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1844–89: Hopkins was a Catholic convert, who went on to become a Jesuit)
‘There is a great work for peace in which all can participate the nations must disarm or perish be just and fear not.’
—Robert Cecil 1865–1958 (Cecil was a British politician and diplomat, and was one of the fathers of the League of Nations.)
<strong>Right panel:</strong>
‘Constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum’
—You have made him ruler over the works of your hands. (Psalm 8: 6)](https://photos.smugmug.com/2008/Inside-the-Palais-des-Nations/i-zFwrsT5/2/c2b6ed33/XL/RHJF_20D_20080311_0152-4_stitched-XL.jpg)
The British Gift to the League of Nations • This large carving sits above the front door inside the Palais des Nations, built 1929–38. It was given to the League of Nations by the British Government. It is hard to imagine that such a defiantly Christian monument would be presented today. Here are the various texts carved on the piece: Left panel: ‘Nos autem populus ejus et oves pascuae ejus’ —We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100: 3) Centre panel: ‘Quid est homo, quod memor es ejus?’ —What is man, that you are mindful of him? (Psalm 8: 4) ‘Ad imaginem Dei creavit illum’ —In the image of God he created him. (Genesis 1: 27) ‘Thou mastering me God! giver of breath and bread; world's strand sway of the sea; Lord of living and dead; [Thou hast bound bones and veins in me, fastened me flesh, And after it almost unmaed, what with dread, Thy doing: and dost thou touch me afresh?] Over again I feel thy finger and find thee.’ from The Wreck of the Deutschland, by Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1844–89: Hopkins was a Catholic convert, who went on to become a Jesuit) ‘There is a great work for peace in which all can participate the nations must disarm or perish be just and fear not.’ —Robert Cecil 1865–1958 (Cecil was a British politician and diplomat, and was one of the fathers of the League of Nations.) Right panel: ‘Constituisti eum super opera manuum tuarum’ —You have made him ruler over the works of your hands. (Psalm 8: 6)
ArtUnited Nations Office Geneva UNOGrhjf200803110152stitched
