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"Since the veto throws grave doubt on the ability of the organization to stop big power aggression, then the nations turn inevitably to regional solutions. Regional arrangements have a place within the framework of world organization, yet if carried too far regionalism merely sets up opposing 'spheres of influence,' which is the opposite of world responsibility. If the regional solutions fail, what then?"
The "regional" position of the Western Hemisphere is a matter of grave concern to him. "The United States can intervene effectively almost anywhere in the world, but in some respects the United States adopts a highly regionalist position which one would rather expect from a land power such as the U.S.S.R. In spite of your changed position in the world, the Monroe Doctrine is always with you."
Dirt v. Dreams. Van Kleffens recognizes the reality of power, but insists stubbornly that power is not enough. While he stands for the world's growing internationalism, he knows that the nationalism of the great powers has grown, too. At San Francisco, the big powers are grimly unyielding on what they regard as essentials of their sovereignty; most of the Latin Americans are belligerently "idealistic" on points of principle which they can do little to uphold. In contrast to both, Van Kleffens moves about the conference with conciliatory stubbornness, hoping to change a phrase here or a word there. "We fight with no one," he says. Neither does he scorn self-interest or despair of the future. He takes what he can get, works toward what he wants. In his country, they build the dykes of dirt, not of dreams.