The United Nations

The United Nations had met by the time of the Potsdam Conference. There were 51 founding members who had signed the United Nations Charter. The first official meeting of the UN was held in October 1945.

The Charter set up the United Nations Security Council consisting of five permanent members. The five permanent members were the UK, the USA, the Soviet Union, France and China. The members of the security council were able to veto decisions they did not like. Even if most of the members of the General Assembly voted for it, it could be derailed by one member of the Security Council who could vote against it.