Beginnings, end and new beginnings: as part of the restructuring of the UN department of public information, the nine UN information centres (UNICs) in Western Europe have been consolidated into one regional hub in Brussels.

I never expected to live long enough to have both started the first United Nations information office in London--or anywhere in the world--and today to be present at the demise of the centre after more than half a century What a sad and most regrettable event.

The London Information Service, as it was called--there were no Centres in existence as yet--came into being on 15 March 1946 alter the conclusion of the first General Assembly and after the nascent United Nations had moved to Lake Success in search of permanent headquarters,

In London, meanwhile, the in any case very temporary London office under F. C. Sharpley, Executive Director, was dissolved at the end of December 1946. Only the Information Service remained, to move later in January 1947 to Russell Square. The original Information Service consisted of myself, being in charge and responsible for the Press, Bill Henson as deputy and looking after Visual Information, and Dik Lehmkuhl for Radio and assisting staff.

In January 1947, I took over the newly named information Centre as acting Director--acting because of a United Nations rule, since dropped, that in this position a national of the country could only be acting. After more than two years, in April 1949, George Ivan Smith followed as Director and I moved later to ECAFE in Bangkok The general atmosphere in those early years was one of near euphoria, quite different from now.

There was great confidence in the future of the United Nations and great enthusiasm among its personnel. The international idea was in vogue, although at least some of the future big international problems, like the cold war, were already looming.

Typical of the situation then were small lapel stickers being distributed, with Churchill's picture and the inscription "United Nations UNITE". Churchill also made a speech on 5 March 1946 in which he admirably proclaimed: "If we adhere faithfully to the Charter of the United Nations and walk forward in sedate and sober strength ... the high roads of the future will be clear, not only for us but for all, not only for our time but for a century to come."

Naturally, there was also a lot of ignorance about the United Nations. The Empire-minded Beaverbrook politicians and media were sniping at the United Nations, including our information office

No Iraq yet, but we had our work cut out. Among other tasks we were facing was the need to tell the public and media that the United Nations was different from the defunct League of Nations, and that it wished to be called United Nations, not UNO. Our small office was ably helped in its work by the United Nations Association in London, and especially also in Cambridge. I am truly sorry to see UNIC London being closed, especially so at a moment when its services would be needed more than ever.

William Tanza was the first Director of UNIC London.