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international

Interview with
Marilyn Carr,

David Macfadyen
and John Burley

sir eric Drummond

the first secretary General

Diva: Could you be so kind as to tell us a little work on international institutions. John Burley
about why you started to write a book about Sir joined us later at a witness seminar on the
Eric? international work of former UN civil servants.
Marilyn: Having worked for much of my life As part of a British team, it was exciting to learn
for the United Nations, I was intrigued to about this extraordinary man. It was wonderful
learn about a very special person, Sir Eric to explore his story and bring it to the present
Drummond, who set up the UN’s predecessor, generation of the UN, our British association of
the League of Nations in 1919 and established former UN sta , and the public in general who,
its HQ in Geneva. My colleagues David like myself, had perhaps not previously known
Macfadyen and Michael Davies (now sadly about his remarkable contributions to shaping
deceased) asked me to join them in putting his the impartial character of the international civil
life into print. David had started the process service. He was relatively unknown, and the
a er working on the history of WHO, and book was a way of increasing the visibility of
Michael became involved following his earlier the rst Secretary General.

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