Peacemaker
Thant Myint-U, Atlantic Books, £22

THIS is an important book about an almost forgotten former UN secretary-general who did so much during the 1960s to promote peace around the world.

Written by Thant Myint-U, the grandson of former UN secretary-general U-Thant, this book reveals the key role played by the UN in helping resolve the Cuban missile crisis, war in the Congo and the India/Pakistan clash over Kashmir in 1965.

U-Thant had less success in trying to stop the Six Day War in 1967 when Israel, backed by the US, invaded Egypt and beyond. More than a bit of a sense of deja vu relating to what has happened in Gaza over the past two years.

Notably, U-Thant endeavoured to bring resolution and peace to Vietnam from the outset in the early 1960s. He was ignored and vilified for his efforts by the Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon administrations, though it was U-Thant who was finally vindicated by history.

A one time Burmese headmaster, U-Thant became acting UN secretary-general in 1961. He was made permanent later that year, going on to serve two terms.

The UN was then a fledgling organisation, whose power and influence U-Thant did much to advance. He managed to forge important relationships with the John Kennedy White House and the Soviet Union. These links proved crucial during the Cuban missile crisis.

In fact overall, whilst putting much effort into trying to cultivate relationships with successive US administrations, the Soviets probably proved more consistently supportive.

Relations were never good with Johnson due to differences over Vietnam, whilst Nixon had no time for the UN or its secretary-general. The role seemed to be one of getting the blame for much and the credit for little. But U-Thant did make an immense impact with his use of soft power.

An interesting read, that goes some way to righting the historical record, with regards to the role played by the UN and one of its outstanding secretary-generals in creating and maintaining world peace in particularly turbulent times.