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1959-09-24

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1962-09-24

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1. “At the fifteenth session of the General Assembly, Canada, joined by eighteen other nations, sponsored a draft resolution intended to create such a relationship, as was recalled by the Foreign Minister of Chile in his statement [1019th plenary meeting] on 28 September 1961. The ideas then advanced may prove useful in facilitating a solution of the problem of general and complete disarmament. If we and our co-sponsors do bring forward a revised draft resolution at this session, I hope that it will receive the unanimous support of delegations here, The draft resolution which we presented last year did not get quite that support. 44. My second last subject is outer space. During the past year, both the Soviet Union and the United States have successfully launched men into outer space.”

   1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

2. “Once the composition of a negotiating body has been decided, the Assembly should recommend that negotiations begin at the earliest possible date, on the basis of the principles agreed by the United States and the Soviet Union and on the basis 3f the plans which have been put forward by both sides. The negotiating body, with its broadened representation, should have a close and elective relationship with the United Nations, because general disarmament must eventually apply to ail nations without exception. I think that it is important that the United Nations should be kept in this picture, in the disarmament negotiations. 43.”

   1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

3. “two sides could play a constructive role in the renewed negotiations* With this in mind, we suggested at the last session [839th plenary meeting] that an impartial chairman, assisted by one or two other officers from uncommitted countries, could greatly facilitate the work and improve the effectiveness of the negotiations. We are, however, ready to consider other proposals on the question of composition. I believe that it is essential that other nations should be added to the negotiating body. If agreement on composition cannot be reached in the halls of the United Nations, it might very well "be worth while to call a meeting of the United Nations Disarmament Commission and give it the responsibility of selecting a negotiating group. 42.”

   1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

4. “It is therefore incumbent on this Assembly to help reach a decision in this matter—that is, on the question of what form the negotiating body should have. 40. The Conference on disarmament held at Geneva in 1960 was conducted by a Ten-Nation Committee. It seems to be generally agreed that the composition of that Committee will require some modification. Canada believes that, if negotiations are to be productive and realistic, the negotiating body must have adequate and balanced representation of the major military groupings in the world; this was the principle upon which the Ten-Nation Committee was organized; it will be remembered that that Committee was set up by the Foreign Ministers of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and France. 41. But we also believe that nations which are not aligned with either of the.”

   1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

5. “But I believe that these questions can, and must, be resolved by a painstaking and business-like negotiation, in which concrete measures and related verification procedures will be examined in detail. 38. The United States plan is flexible and can accommodate reasonable proposals from the other side, or in fact from any quarter; it is very helpful to have suggestions from any delegation. If the Soviet Union and its allies will demonstrate a similar flexibility and spirit of compromise, it will now be possible to make real progress towards general and complete disarmament. 39. In their bilateral talks this year, the United States and the Soviet Union could not agree on the composition of the body which should undertake these negotiations.”

   1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

6. “I suggest that it is unnecessary for this Assembly to decide that question. 36. In the Ten-Nation Committee on Disarmament at Geneva, as also at the fifteenth session of the General Assembly and in the bilateral discussions this summer between the United States and the Soviet Union, there has been a drawing together of viewpoints, in spite of all the halts and setbacks. The main evidence of this drawing together is the Joint Statement of Agreed Principles just mentioned, 37. Now, there are still important questions relating to disarmament on which the position of the Soviet Union and its allies differs substantially from the position of the Western countries.”

   1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

7. “The comprehensive programme for disarmament introduced by President Kennedy [1013th plenary meeting] on 25 September 1961 provides a sound basis for serious negotiation. Canada co-operated actively in the preparation of this important new plan. The programme it sets out accords precisely with the principles which have been agreed upon between the United States and the Soviet Union. I commend this new plan all members of the Assembly. 3 October 1961 199 35. The Soviet Union, as all representative^ here know, has also put forward disarmament plan, the general philosophy of which is explained in the letter [A/488 7] of the Soviet Foreign Minister to the President of the Assembly. Delegations may be asking themselves whose plan is the better—that of the Soviet Union or that bf the United States.”

   1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

8. “That means pressing without delay for vigorous and effective measures of disarmament. After all, the Charter of the United Nations places the responsibility on the shoulders of all delegations present in this hall- new and old Members alike. To fulfil this obligation we must concentrate on the steps which will lead most directly to concrete measures 33. Canada welcomes the Joint Statement by the United States and the Soviet Union [A/4879] on agreed principles to guide disarmament negotiations. This agreement represents an important accomplishment, but it is only the first step. Substantive negotiations have not been resumed, even though more than a year has passed since the previous talks were broken off in Geneva. 34.”

   1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

9. “The progress achieved during three years of arduous negotiations in Geneva must not be sacrificed. At this session we must take positive steps to ensure that without delay the nuclear Powers renew their efforts to agree on a safeguarded treaty which will obligate them to end nuclear weapons testing. Subsequently all other countries should adhere to this treaty. 31. I should now like to say a few words about disarmament. 32. At this session, more than ever before, the question of disarmament requires our urgent attention. The crisis over Berlin and the great anxiety created by the resumption of nuclear weapons tests have brought to every mind the death and destruction which would follow the outbreak of nuclear war. We must check the spiralling competition for supremacy in armaments.”

   1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

10. “This is the time to call a halt to this sort of business. Let us all do a right about turn and not look any further at such a terrible prospect. 29. I am sure that it came as a profound shock to the whole world to learn that the critical negotiations which had gone on for so long in Geneva—for almost three years—and had borne so much of the hopes of mankind, had been abruptly brought to an end by the Soviet resumption of tests, tests which obviously had been planned for a long time. Such was the Soviet response to a series of Western proposals which offered further concessions and gave promise of the early conclusion of a treaty on the discontinuance of nuclear weapons tests. 30. These developments demand that this Assembly give the highest priority to considering the permanent cessation of nuclear weapons testing.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

11. “Several have availed themselves of our facilities and today I invite other countries to do so. In addition, the recent sharp increase in the levels of radio-active fall-out in the world makes it all the more essential to support the work of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, 28. The radiation hazard alone is sufficient justification for demanding the cessation of nuclear weapons testing. But there is another reason and that is the spectre of the development, as a result of test explosions, of new and even more terrible weapons, for example, Chairman Khrushchev's one hundred megaton bomb, which might be called the Armageddon bomb. The fact that the leaders of this great nation of the Soviet Union are even thinking of such a bomb shows the need for an immediate change of direction in world thinking.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

12. “Whatever success we may achieve in respect of the other grave issues will, I fear, be of little comfort to mankind if we fail to dispel forever the ominous and lowering clouds of radio-activity which hang over this and unborn generations. 27. In 1959 this Assembly unanimously endorsed far- reaching proposals [resolution 1376 (XIV)], initiated by Canada, for strengthening the important contribution which the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of' Atomic Radiation can make to greater understanding of the extent and nature of the biological effects of radiation. At that time, Canada and about twelve other countries extended an offer of assistance to less well-equipped countries for the analysis of samples they might wish to send to our laboratories- samples of soil, air, bone and so on.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

13. “The anxiety which is aroused in Canada by these test explosions is, I believe, shared by peoples everywhere. We take the strongest possible exception to having our present and succeeding generations exposed, through the actions of other States, to the danger of radio-active fall-out. We know that radiation presents a hazard to human health and the more we learn about the extent of its consequences the more disturbed we become. 26. In my view, this Assembly and world opinion— and this is the place to focus world opinion—must insist that there be no further testing of nuclear weapons. The time has come when it is not sufficient merely to express concern and to record blame. We must find means of compelling the countries responsible to cease the testing of nuclear weapons.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

14. “Whereas in the week ending 10 September the highest level recorded anywhere in Canada was 20 •■disintegrations per minute per cubic metre, in the next week the following high readings were recorded: Ottawa, 90 units; Montreal, 100 units; Fredericton, 140 units; Windsor, 260 units; and Toronto, 470 units. 24. Long before this new and hazardous increase in the radiation to which our people are exposed, my Government had made crystal clear in this Assembly and elsewhere that it was unalterably opposed to the testing of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons. Now more than ever we are confirmed in our opposition to test explosions, particularly, of course, those which produce radio-active fall-out, whether such tests occur in the atmosphere, in outer space, or elsewhere. 25.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

15. “If Berlin were internationalised in this way, a heavy burden, it is true, would be placed upon the Organization, but the United Nations should not shrink from assuming the responsibility and accepting any obligations involved. 22. I go on the nuclear testing and radiation. During the last two weeks of September, following recent Soviet weapons testing in the atmosphere, the level of radio-active fall-out over one major Canadian city- Toronto—jumped by as much as 1,000 times over previous readings. We are making available to the United Nations complete details of Canadian readings but the following figures will demonstrate that there is real cause for the gravest concern, 23.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

16. “The first is to focus world attention on the problem and to leave the four Powers in no doubt whatever that they have an obligation to reach a negotiated settlement. This debate is already serving that purpose. 20. Secondly, if the four Powers agreed, the United Nations could serve in an observer capacity in the whole city and on the access routes. Properly integrated into a four-Power settlement, a United Nations presence in the Berlin area would add stability and would restore confidence. 21. A third possibility is that the United Nations might be asked by the four Powers to assume some responsibility for operating an international regime for the whole city of Berlin. The influence of such an international regime could be strengthened by locating the European office or other agencies of the United Nations in Berlin.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

17. “I have not doubt at all that it is the universal desire of this Assembly that a settlement on Berlin be negotiated with the least possible delay. Clearly the tension must be reduced and the frightening threat of armed conflict must be removed. 17. The primary responsibility for solving the Berlin crisis r*9sts with the four occupying Powers in that city, but the United Nations could be called upon to play a role in a Berlin settlement. In any event, the United Nations cannot abdicate its responsibility in relation to any problem which raises acutely the fundamental issue of peace or war. 18. There are at least three ways in which the United Nations might be of assistance in the Berlin situation. 19.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

18. “These committees afford an additional opportunity for interested states to offer advice and to give political guidance to the Secretary- General in the discharge of his mandates. This is a practice which has proven its worth, and one which can be developed further in relation to many activities of the United Nations. 14. Now I go on to deal with five different subjects: Berlin, nuclear testing and radiation, disarmament, outer space, and the strengthening of the United Nations. 15. First of all, Berlin. Most speakers in .this debate have referred to the prevailing crisis over Berlin. The Soviet Union has seen fit to create there a very dangerous situation, where a few months ago no imminent threat to peace existed. 16. The peoples of the world are watching anxiously the steps which are being taken in the direction of negotiation.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

19. “An independent international civil service must be preserved if the United Nations is to perform its impartial role. 12. There is no reason, moreover, why Member States should try to keep control of their nationals in the Secretariat. The appropriate political control of Secretariat activities is exercised by the Security Council, the General Assembly and the other organs of the United Nations. Those organs can give full instructions to the Secretary-General, 13. As well, we have wisely adopted the practice of establishing advisory committees especially for peacekeeping operations. 1 referred a few moments ago to the Advisory Committee on the Congo which we think is an excellent committee; perhaps because we are a member of this Committee.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

20. “Any change in the nature of the office would require amendment of the Charter, That does not mean that the composition of the Secretariat should not reflect the changed membership of the United Nations. On the contrary, all Member States have a legitimate interest in ensuring that the main geographical areas have equitable representation. However, no State or group of States should be in a position within the Secretariat to veto the implementation of decisions of any organ of the United Nations. 11. We stand firmly behind Article 100 of the Charter which provides that the Secretary-General and his staff shall not seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization". And how essential that is, if this United Nations is to live and to expand and to meet the challenge which faces it.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

21. “We see it as a means for keeping the essential work of the Organization going, and as a means of affording to us the time required to give careful consideration to the appointment of a Secretary- General. 9. We would expect the interim appointee to have the loyal co-operation of the Secretariat at all levels. No doubt he will have his own working methods and will make his own arrangements for drawing on the advice and experience of the international staff. He may wish to make some adjustment in the Secretariat. He must, however, retain full authority to make the decisions and give the directions which are the sole responsibility of the office he will be filling. 10. As for the longer term problem, the Charter calls for the appointment of a single executive.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

22. “No delegation here has expressed disagreement about the urgency of making an interim arrangement. Intensive consultations have already taken place about various possibilities. It is recognized by all—and I do not believe there is one delegation here that would disagree with the statement that I am about to make- that there are right here in this hall eminent representatives who have the necessary Qualifications and who enjoy the trust and confidence of the Assembly. We should waste no time in selecting one of these widely respected men to take interim charge of the functions and responsibilities of the office of Secretary- General. 8. We do not expect such an arrangement to be indefinitely prolonged.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

23. “Member Governments, such as the Government of Canada, with important commitments in that country, have a right, and a duty, Page to insist that the United Nations operation be conducted under proper authority. Here we have important negotiations under way at this very time with Katanga, yet with no one here in New York to direct the operations of the Secretariat. That, I suggest, is a foolish situation, but surely there is enough wisdom in this Assembly to meet that situation and to appoint someone on an interim basis. The Advisory Committee on the Congo, made up of eighteen nations, of which Canada is one, has done splendid work here for more than fifteen months past, and yet there is now no one to whom that Committee can give directions. That, I repeat, is the situation which should not be allowed to continue. 7.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

24. “Many of these issues have been placed on the agenda, but the one which immediately confronts us results from the tragic death of the Secretary-General. Before we can deal effectively with any other question, some interim arrangement must be made to enable the work of this Organization to be carried on. 5. The appointment of a Secretary-General is a matter so important that it would require mature reflection even if circumstances were normal, but in the prevailing political atmosphere an early appointment seems, from the Canadian point of view, out of the question. 6. But today's circumstances will not allow this Organization to be left any longer without direction. The Congo situation alone demands that an interim arrangement be made at once.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

25. “We believe, too, that it is appropriate that a representative of a nation of Africa should be President of the Assembly at the present time—that continent which is now the centre of attention for the whole world, a continent whose sons are playing such an active and important role in these halls. 3. For all these reasons I wish to congratulate the President on behalf of Canada and to assure him that we shall help him in every way possible during his term of office. It is not an easy time to be President of the General Assembly, but we know that he will fulfil the expectations of his many, many friends. 4. At no other time in its sixteen years has the United Nations faced so many large issues, some of which, we believe, threaten its very survival.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

26. “1. Before I commence my statement I should like to say how pleaded Canadians are that Mr. Slim has been chosen unanimously as President of the sixteenth session of the General Assembly. Throughout the last few years we have learned to admire him for his friendliness and his great wisdom, and we believe that he has become one of the outstanding statesmen of the United Nations. We are pleased also because he represents Tunisia which, in its term as a Member of this Organization, has taken such an active and important part. It is most fitting that a Tunisian should have been chosen President of the General Assembly. 2.”

    1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)

27. “These visits could be the starting point on a new road which would lead away from all the friction and distrust which have developed since the Second World War. Whether or not they do lead in that direction may very well depend in large measure upon the words and actions of the delegates to the present Assembly — and I am sure that we will not fail to meet this great challenge.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

28. “For all these reasons, should the United Nations not now find a way to express its continuing interest in Laos? Such an approach, if it were welcome to Laos, could make a most valuable contribution to stability. We, for our part, have come to the view that some appropriate and continuing expression of United Nations concern is desirable, not only in the interest of the people of Laos but also in the general interest of world peace and security. 98. In conclusion, I believe that this session of the Assembly can go far to bring renewed hope to the people of all lands; they desire, above all else, permanent world peace. We meet in a period when there is some diminution in world tension, largely due to the friendly' exchange of visits this year between the leaders of great Powers.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

29. “There exist in that part of the world a number of newly-established States which are finding their feet as nations in conditions of international tension. These new nations have many needs, but by far the greatest are peace and other conditions for material development. We believe that the United Nations has a proper, legitimate interest and concern in this area in which a number of its Members are located, including Laos. 96. Admittedly the efforts of the United Nations to help to preserve peace may be seriously hampered by the attitude towards the Organization of certain non-member States directly interested in the problem; but we must hope that such States will as time goes on come to recognize the useful contribution the United Nations can make. 97.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

30. “The principles underlying the Geneva agreements, and in particular the principle of non-alignment, should be respected in order to lessen the tension existing in that troubled area, 93. The United Nations for its part has an important role to perform, not — as has been charged — in upsetting the regime established at Geneva, but in supplementing it with arrangements essential for the long-term stability of the area. 94. It seems to us that the United Nations must look ahead at this long-term future. True, we have in Laos at present a sub-committee, set up by the Security Council, and we must await its report upon the facts of the situation there. However, the very presence of this United Nations body seems already to be having a pacifying effect. 95.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

31. “All Member States have an equal interest in ensuring the continuing effectiveness of the Force. We support the efforts of the Secretary-General to consolidate its financial position. We hope these efforts will receive a degree of co-operation commensurate with the political significance of the UNEF operation and of the collective responsibility of all Members to maintain international peace and security. 92. Finally, I turn to conditions in the Far East. May I say that in our view a notable effort was made at the Geneva Conference in 1954 to establish equilibrium in Indochina. It was an effort at peace-making fully compatible with the United Nations Charter.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

32. “This Force has for another year admirably carried out the tasks set for it by the General Assembly. Canadians are proud of the part which their armed forces are playing, with those of other contributing States, in attaining this satisfactory result. 90. In view of the relative quiet which now prevails in the area where it is stationed, some Member States might be of the opinion that the time has arrived to curtail the Force’s operations. I think we should bear in mind, however, that the, reduction of frontier incidents between the United Arab Republic and Israel is due in large measure to the presence of the Force. It would therefore be unfortunate if the contribution of UNEF to more stable conditions in the area should now be jeopardized by a premature limitation of its operations. 91.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

33. “In this undertaking the Canadian Government will have the co-operation of provincial governments and the active support of a private organization known as the Canadian Committee for World Refugee Year. 88. I am aware that a number of other Members of the United Nations have outlined imaginative plans to receive handicapped refugees. Our collective efforts should have the effect of easing or bringing to an end the disproportionate burden which some European, countries have carried since 1945, fourteen years ago. Above all, Canada welcomes the occasion offered by World Refugee Year to give a group of human beings whose plight is particularly tragic an opportunity to rebuild their lives in dignity and in happiness. 89. One other item on the agenda which is of special interest to Canada concerns the United Nations Emergency Force.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

34. “A great many of these so-called "hard-core" cases are Suffering from tuberculosis; In many instances whole families have had to face the prospect of remaining indefinitely in the camps because one member had contracted that disease. 86. I am pleased to announce, therefore, that as its special contribution to the World Refugee Year the Canadian Government will waive normal immigration requirements and admit to Canada a substantial number of tubercular refugees and their families. This group will be brought to Canada and treated in sanatoria at Canadian expense. Furthermore, a family unable to support itself while a member is under treatment will receive maintenance payments. It is my hope that the first refugees selected will reach Canada by the end of this calendar year. 87.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

35. “In considering what special contribution would be most appropriate and effective, my Government noted that the camp clearance project of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had been assigned a top priority. If increased efforts could be made, it appeared possible to close the European camps and thereby terminate one entire United Nations refugee programme. 85. We are all aware that the remaining population of these European camps contains a high proportion of people who are difficult to relocate elsewhere because they fail to meet the medical regulations of countries which might provide a new home.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

36. “Many scores of thousands of these people have made a new start in Canada and have enriched our national life. 83. In addition, Canada has for many years contributed to programmes to alleviate the distressing conditions in which refugees, through no fault of their own, are compelled to exist in camps throughout the world. We have made substantial financial contributions to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, to the programmes of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and to the Far Eastern operation of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration. Canada can be counted on again this year to assume its share in maintaining these international programmes. 84. The essence of the World Refugee Year is, however, that Governments should make an extra effort.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

37. “The impetus and the prime effort must come from the recipient; only then can a healthy relationship exist between donor and recipient. 80. My delegation will at this session, as in the past, work closely with delegations, both from recipient and from donor countries, to continue building up the sound patterns of economic co-operation which have been laid down in the United Nations in the past years. 81. I now come to a heart-rending subject. One of the world's most pressing social problems is that of refugees. This is World Refugee Year during which most Member States are pledged to make a determined assault on the problem. 82. Delegates know the active interest Canada has always taken in the plight of the millions of unfortunate people uprooted by the Second World War and by political unrest during the post-war years.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

38. “Canadian representatives participated actively in the establishment of this new organization. My Government’s contribution in the first year of the Fund's operation indicated our confidence that it will become an important source of assistance in fields essential to the integrated development of less developed countries. 79. Members of the United Nations will be aware that, apart from the multilateral programmes under the aegis of the United Nations, other substantial and useful aid programmes exist. The Colombo Plan is one of them with which my country has been very happily associated. We have found that these plans, in which the donor and receiver countries work in close co-operation, have had good results.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

39. “First I should like to re-emphasize my country’s concern for economic development in less developed areas. Much good work has already been accomplished in this field both inside and outside the United Nations. A great deal more remains to be done for which we believe vigorous action is required to accelerate the social and economic progress of people throughout the world. 78. The Canadian Government has always strongly supported multilateral United Nations economic assistance programmes. We will be providing our share of the increased resources of the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. In the past year we gave $2 million to the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and another $2 million to the newly established Special Fund.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

40. “The pooling, in turn, of the results of such research through the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation can make a further valuable contribution to the world’s collective knowledge of this common problem. 75. We believe that mankind would derive relief from anxiety if the nations of the world were to acknowledge an obligation to do what they can to ensure that the world-wide physical measurement of the intensity and distribution of radiation is made as accurate and complete as possible. 76. At this session the Canadian delegation intends to submit a proposal which we sincerely hope will encourage the world-wide collection of more accurate data on radiation and will provide for its central collation. 77. I turn now to the question of aid to less developed nations.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

41. “In a matter which is of such concern to human life and future generations, all Member States have an equal interest in ensuring that research into the biological effects of radiation be based on the fullest and most reliable information. For this purpose, scientists must have at their disposal data on radiation from fall-out and other sources which would be as clearly as possible world-wide in its scope and collected by standardized methods. 74. All Member States can make a vital contribution towards this objective by co-operating to the fullest possible extent in the collection of data and in remitting it to a central agency for collation. The collated data would then be available to Governments, and to scientific and medical research institutions, for investigation of the biological effects and industrial hazards of radiation.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

42. “All mankind is concerned that knowledge of the biological and other effects of radiation, and of the present extent of the hazard, should be enlarged. We must also realize that even if the nations agree to stop testing nuclear weapons, the problem of radiation will not vanish. The large .and growing use of radiation in medicine; the atomic era in industry with the possibility of accidents — for example in power stations soon to become a familiar sight in many lands; the risks connected with the disposal of radioactive waste; all these and similar perils which are unforeseeable now — will be with us henceforth. They will present complex problems demanding constant observation, study and precaution. 73. There is an urgent need to fill the substantial gaps which continue to exist in our knowledge of the phenomenon of radiation.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

43. “Their continued non-participation cannot fail to limit the value of any proposals that may be considered. Canada will, of course, continue to cooperate to the fullest extent in any international consideration of these problems, whether this be at the inter-governmental level as in the United Nations, or in the highly important area of international cooperation among scientists. 71. I should like now to touch upon another question of vital importance: the hazards resulting from the addition of man-made radiation to that which already occurs in nature. The United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, in its report this year to the General Assembly [A/4119], has outlined what appears to my delegation to be an admirable and useful programme for the next few years. 72.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

44. “The Ad Hoc Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space which was set up at the thirteenth session [resolution 1348 (XUI)] has made a useful start in considering the scientific, technical and legal aspects of co-operation within the United Nations. Canada served on that Committee and provided the Chairman for the Technical Committee, whose work forms the basis for a large part of the report we shall be considering [A/4141], Our great regret is that one of the two nations which have the greatest accomplishments in space technology did not participate in the preparation of this initial report. I do not think the report contains anything to which the Soviet Union should take exception. 70. We trust that further arrangements to pursue these matters will have the co-operation of the Soviet Union.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

45. “An event took place a few days ago which lends further urgency to the need for international consideration of the many problems which may arise as man continues his penetration of outer space. I refer to the tremendous feat of the Soviet Union in hurling a dead weight of considerable magnitude from the earth to the moon. This was a magnificent achievement which is deserving of the greatest praise. 68. It does, however, emphasize the urgent necessity of having the international community establish adequate regulation where none exists. In particular, early consideration must be given to establishing rules determining the limits of national sovereignty in space, 69.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

46. “Unless this problem can be solved in respect of the relatively narrow and specific question of nuclear tests, we can hardly expect early progress in either aspects of disarmament where verification and inspection of even greater complexity are likely to be required. 66. Another aspect of disarmament which should prove susceptible of early negotiation is disarmament in relation to outer space. Two years ago, my Prime Minister urged that the passage of time should not be allowed to bring to the problem of outer space the complications which failure to reach agreement on nuclear weapons has brought to that problem. 67. Today the pace of scientific and technological progress is staggering to the imagination.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

47. “One aspect of disarmament from which we can all draw some encouragement, is the fact that there now exist seventeen agreed articles of a draft treaty- on discontinuance of nuclear tests — which treaty is being negotiated by the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. And here may I say the Canadian people are unanimous in their wish to see an end to nuclear testing. It is true that the principal difficulties have yet to be resolved; again they centre on the question of control. 65. Whatever the solution, it is of the utmost importance for the three nuclear Powers to reach agreement on this central question of the control system.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

48. “Clearly the medium-sized and smaller Powers must have an opportunity of being heard; for disarmament is of the deepest concern to all mankind. In Canada's work on the Committee we shall at all times keep these two facts very much in mind. 63. It is my understanding that this Disarmament Committee will begin work early in 1960 and I hope its negotiations will be extended in an orderly manner to a broad range of measures relating to nuclear and other modern weapons and also to conventional weapons and. armed forces. We welcome the fact that the great Powers already are preparing proposals for the Committee, and I may say that Canadian studies are also in progress. 64.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

49. “The activities of the ten-Power Disarmament Committee are intended not to replace but to supplement the responsibilities of the United Nations in the field of disarmament. 62. With respect to the link between this Committee and the United Nations, it is our view that it would be in the interest of all concerned not only that the Committee report from time to time to the United Nations but also that the United Nations — probably through its Disarmament Commission — discuss the progress of the Committee's work; encourage its activities; and evolve further ideas in this general field. In this way those Members of the United Nations not participating in the ten-Power Committee would have an effective means of expressing their interest in its objectives.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)

50. “With a view to taking a fresh look at some of the problems of disarmament, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Soviet Union recently announced [DC/144] the establishment of a ten-Power Disarmament Committee — the creation of which has been noted by the United Nations Disarmament Commission [A/4209], Consistent with our policy of using any forum appropriate for disarmament negotiations, Canada accepted an invitation to participate in this Committee. This body may not be linked with the United Nations to the extent that many countries would prefer, but I wish to emphasize that the Canadian Government has assumed this responsibility in the belief that it will facilitate direct negotiations among the great Powers.”

    1959-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 14 (1959)