YouSaid · the spoken record

Schuman

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS SCHUMAN

lines on the record: 57
first: 1948-09-24
most recent: 1949-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

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“France respected human dignity in every individual, and recognized the right of every State to develop freely and to accomplish its mission. That mission was enlarged by the possibility of each State to contribute to the common welfare of all. The egotism of States was not only an offence condemned by morality; it was an error repudiated by the solidarity which bound the destiny of all peoples more and more every day. 79. Every vote cast within the Assembly should be guided by that truth, which was the basis — nay, more, the raison d’être — of the United Nations.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“Thus, on one point at least, the hope expressed in resolution 190 (III), which the General Assembly had adopted on 3 November 1948 on the initiative of the delegation of Mexico, and to which the President had appropriately referred in his opening speech (220th meeting), would be fulfilled. Austria would then be able to take its place in the United Nations together with other nations, which had not betrayed either the cause of international morality or that of democracy and freedom. The French delegation sincerely rejoiced in the moral support and spontaneous cooperation of so many nations, whose influence within the Organization was not to be measured by the size of their populations or by the extent of their material resources.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“Although the Council of Foreign Ministers had failed to reach agreement on Germany, it seemed, on the other hand, to have paved the way for the conclusion of a treaty with Austria, a treaty which would make it possible to put an end to the military occupation of that country and to restore to it its real sovereignty. Negotiations for the final drafting of the texts had been carried on throughout the summer and were being resumed that day in New York. The French delegation was very anxious to reach a successful conclusion before the Austrian elections on 9 October 1949. 78.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“The destiny of Germany had once again been entrusted to the Germans themselves. Events would show whether they were able to cope with the responsibilities which had been restored to them, and to prepare their future in order and liberty. The rate at which subsequent progress took place would depend on the results of that experiment. France hoped that Germany Would embark upon a course which would enable it to regain its place in the community of free nations, beginning with that European community foreshadowed by the Council of Europe. 77.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“75. In those circumstances, when there was no possibility for the time being of achieving a peace settlement, the western Powers had had to take the responsibility of reorganizing provisionally the part of Germany which was under their jurisdiction. A constitution had been drawn up by the authorized representatives of the peoples of the States of western Germany. Ratified by those States and approved by the occupation authorities, that constitution had come into force at the same time as a new occupation statute transferring to the Germans themselves the major part of the powers previously exercised by the three Allies. 76. That experiment was still in its initial stage. The first President of the new Federal Republic of Germany had just been elected, the first Chancellor had been appointed, and the first Government had been constituted.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“It was not necessary to recall the vicissitudes of that Four Power regime. There again, as elsewhere, the impossibility of reaching agreement had led to an impasse, and Germany was cut in two by the insurmountable barrier which separated the western occupation zones from the eastern zone. 74. The blockade of the western sectors of Berlin, with which the Security Council had had to deal, had expressed that antagonism in a dramatic form for almost a whole year. The representative of France was pleased to note that the situation had eased. As a result of the efforts made at the recent meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, held in Paris after eighteen months of adjournment, a modus vivendi had been arrived at. But it had been impossible to achieve a general solution whereby the policy of the four occupying Powers could be harmonized.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“Co-operation among the countries of Europe, the removal of the barriers preventing the free movement of individuals, goods and capital, the development of the feeling of solidarity and a judicious distribution of tasks, would contribute to the solution of the difficulties created by a succession of wars. Such were the hopes fostered by the peoples of liberated Europe. It was to be hoped that they would become living realities for the greatest possible good of all the peoples concerned, and an encouraging example to others. 72. Germany was situated in the heart of Europe and the German problem was at the centre of the European problem. 73. Following the unconditional surrender of Germany, the fate of that country had been placed in the hands of the four principal Allied Powers.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“It would be too bold an anticipation at that stage to speak of a federation, although such a federation corresponded to the aspirations of a considerable part of public opinion. The object in view was the progressive, prudent and ambitious erection of a rational structure which would be a valuable factor of political stability and material progress. That enterprise, likewise, was not directed against anybody. For the time being, it extended to only one half of Europe, but remained open to all those who agreed to contribute to it in a spirit of good will and strict respect for democratic principles and the dignity of the human person. 71.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“It was in altogether different circumstances that another agreement to which the French Government was a party had been concluded during the current year, 1949, namely the agreement which set up the Council of Europe. That, again, was a regional organization. Its purpose, however, was not to reinforce security but to initiate a vast structural reform of the European continent. Its purpose was to create among the States members of the Council of Europe, by progressive development and democratic methods, political and economic ties of such a nature that the totality of those States would end by constituting a unity, which would eliminate exhausting national rivalries and help to facilitate the development of production and trade by adapting them to the conditions and means of the modem world.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“Strictly in conformity with the spirit and the letter of the United Nations Charter, its sole purpose was to consolidate security and to achieve that end by means of unequivocal mutual undertakings and the building up of the defences of peace-loving countries in an area of the world which had so often been sorely tried. The French representative expressed the hope that the day would soon come when such agreements would become unnecessary, because the active and trustful co-operation of all its Members would have enabled the United Nations to play the part and to avail itself of the means which the Charter had envisaged for it. 70.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“Until that time, Member States were justified in organizing legitimate individual and collective defence and in concluding regional agreements for the protection of their common interests. 69. It was in that spirit that the French Government, after having signed the Treaty of Brussels with four neighbouring friendly countries in 1948, had acceded in 1949 to the North Atlantic Treaty, which grouped together twelve States united by a common Christian civilization and by close political and economic interests. That treaty, like the preceding one, was exclusively defensive. It neither aimed at nor threatened any State.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“The French delegation remained profoundly convinced that the earnest expectations of the peoples would not be ultimately disappointed, that the spirit of peace would prevail in the end, and that international law would eventually be consolidated and respected. 68. Meanwhile, the responsible Governments had the right and the duty to take, within the limits laid down by the Charter, any measures which might help to strengthen the security of their countries until collective security had become a reality, until the Security Council was able to act effectively as a result of understanding among the great Powers, and until an international army had been established.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“That was particularly so in regard to the problem of disarmament and the related problem of the control of atomic energy. Due caution should be exercised against words and appearances, even if those appearances sometimes provided grounds for optimism and some evidence of an easing of the. situation. So long as a real spirit of confidence failed to predominate in international relations, in other words, so long as the most serious questions had not been tackled or settled among all the parties concerned, particularly the question of the form of government for Germany and Japan and the relations between the West and the East, it would be useless to open once again in the Assembly inconclusive discussions which could only become involved in controversy and propaganda, emphasizing and increasing the weakness of the United Nations. 67.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“The French Government also believed that due account must be taken of the services rendered by Italy in the past in the development of its colonies and that special account must be taken of these services which it would be likely to render in the future, if it were given the opportunity. Italy, which was unjustly excluded from the United Nations, had regained its position as a great democratic nation. It might still make a great contribution to the joint work of civilization, and the United Nations had no right to disregard it. 65. While some of the problems before the Assembly were thus on their way — or appeared to be on their way — to solution, others remained in an impasse and were liable so to remain for a long time unless there were a radical change in people’s minds and in international relations. 66.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“The proposals submitted in that respect had not been adopted. Other ways must be sought. 63. France was willing to participate in the search for them in all good faith and with complete objectivity. It would not, however, be able to associate itself with a solution which, based upon sentiments that were no doubt praiseworthy but somewhat unrealistic and insufficiently concerned with the grave responsibilities of the United Nations, would not take into account the need for a progressive instruction. It would not be in the interests either of the peoples concerned or of international peace to run the risk of disorder, anarchy and affliction. The wisdom of the United Nations required that it should define the stages by which those territories were to advance towards a freedom which was neither a snare nor a hazard. 64.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“It had rightly considered, as the Charter itself stated in Article 73, sub-paragraph (b), that it was first necessary to develop self-government among those peoples, and to assist them in the progressive development of their free political institutions, according to the particular circumstances of each territory and its peoples and their varying stages of advancement. 62. It was upon the consequences to be drawn from that second essential principle that agreement had so far failed to materialize. It had been impossible to reach agreement on the best methods to be adopted in order rapidly to prepare the peoples for independence. It had been thought — and France, for its part, considered that there was justification for the view — that the normal method in most cases should be that of trusteeship, in pursuance of the Charter itself.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“That had been shown unmistakably in the draft resolution of the First Committee and had not been contested. 61. Another point that was equally evident was that the immediate and complete achievement of that independence was not compatible with the current political and economic development of the territories concerned. That fact had been emphasized by the Assembly when it had rejected by a very large majority a proposal submitted to it providing for such unconditional independence.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“After thorough discussion and, in particular, after hearing the points of view expressed by the representatives of certain groups considered to be representative of the peoples concerned, the First Committee, at the third session of the General Assembly, had proposed a resolution (A/873), which was due to the initiative of two Governments which all recognized as being essentially concerned, but which had not finally been adopted, since it had failed by a few votes to secure the required two-thirds majority for certain of its parts. 59. The question must be taken up again, with due regard to the facts already submitted and the trends of opinion revealed in the previous discussion. 60. The first point that seemed clear was the general desire to make independence under a democratic Government the final goal of the territories.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“In the opinion of the French Government, what was most important was that the solution should be viable and that it should therefore be designed less to satisfy juridical preferences than to guarantee the practical objectives which the United Nations had set before itself. It should also do no more than impose the various indispensable obligations which, moreover, should be reasonably acceptable to all the parties concerned. 57. The question of the disposal of the former Italian colonies had been referred to the General Assembly for settlement by the nations signatories to the peace treaty with Italy. 58.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“It was on the basis of those decisions of principle that the Conciliation Commission had studied the problem and established the proposals which had been submitted to the Assembly (A/973). The French Government had considered them with great care and would state its attitude at the time of the detailed discussion. In examining those proposals it would be guided chiefly by its desire to respect and to put into practice the spirit of the aforementioned resolution, which constituted a formal and authoritative decision on the highest international level. But although the aims were clearly defined, the means were less so.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“In the first place, the Assembly had decided that the Holy Places were to be protected and free access to them ensured in accordance with existing rights and historical practice, both in Jerusalem and in all the other areas of Palestine. In the second place, a permanent international regime was to be established for the whole area of Jerusalem, a regime distinct from that of the other areas of Palestine and placed under effective United Nations control. That regime was to provide in particular for the demilitarization of the area and was to ensure maximum local autonomy for individual groups so far as autonomy was consistent with the special international regime. 56.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“One of those problems was that of the Arab refugees, for whom only measures for immediate relief had so far been taken. An Economic Survey Mission had been set up by the Conciliation Commission to investigate the possibilities of repatriation or resettlement. Its terms of reference seemed to have given rise to erroneous interpretations which explained, though they did not justify, the suspicious reserve of certain Governments. It was incumbent on the Assembly to remove those misunderstandings and to prepare the way for constructive humanitarian action. 55. The second problem was that of an international regime for Jerusalem. The principles on which such a regime should be based had been clearly defined in General Assembly resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“By its resolution 194 (III) of 11 December 1948, the General Assembly had established a Conciliation Commission to bring about those contacts and promote, agreements. It was a cause for profound regret that the countries concerned had not so far achieved the desired rapprochement and that, on that account, the peace which was to replace the armistice was not yet within sight. 52. The representative of France did not doubt that the General Assembly would unanimously appeal both to the Arab countries and to Israel to abandon their passive attitude, in their own interests as well as in the interests of international peace. 53. Two concrete problems affecting the whole of mankind in its sentiments and in its beliefs required the particular attention of the Assembly. 54.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“The first was that hostilities had been suspended on all fronts since the signing of the armistice agreements. The truce imposed by the United Nations had given place to a contractual situation. That essential result was largely due to the persevering action and flexible authority of the Mediator and the Acting Mediator, to whom the Assembly should once again express the gratitude felt by all men. 51. The second fact was that, since the conclusion of the armistice agreements, no progress had been made towards a more lasting settlement. It had been hoped that, once completely established, the armistice regime would enable the parties to enter into direct negotiations that would lead to a final stabilization of the situation.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“It had been hoped that the victory of the democracies over Hitlerism would preserve the civilized world from such abuses. How could Governments responsible for such a state of affairs rightfully claim a place within the United Nations? In that connexion, Mr. Schuman recalled that other countries which scrupulously observed the principles of the Charter were prevented from joining the United Nations by the improper linking together of various applications for membership, each of which should be examined on its own merits. 49. When the United Nations had admitted the State of Israel it had thereby intended to facilitate the restoration of peace and a normal situation in the Near East. That hope had not been completely disappointed. 50. The situation in Palestine was dominated by two facts.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“The Assembly’s task in that field was not yet finished. It would have to combine authority and conciliation in order to secure the good will and co-operation of all the countries concerned. 48. While the Assembly was still attached to the principle of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of States, whether Members of the Organization or not, it could not ignore the violation of the essential rights which it had solemnly recognized as belonging to all human beings. The Assembly owed it to itself and to public opinion in every country to raise its voice, particularly against certain police or pseudo-judicial methods which were incompatible with the guarantees which every defendant should be able to claim if justice were not to be a cynical parody.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“For the first time all uncertainty on that subject had been dispelled by the declaration of certain implicated Governments that they would henceforth close their frontiers and disarm the guerrillas who had taken refuge in their territory, thus admitting that their former attitude had been open to criticism. 46. The Assembly should take note of that and hope that the tragedy was about to come to an. end. It was still necessary, however, that those declarations should be solemnly confirmed and that an international body should see that they were put into effect. The Greek people would then be able to devote themselves entirely to their serious domestic problems and carry on the work of political and economic reconstruction in a spirit of reconciliation and respect for democratic principles. 47.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“If the United Nations had been called upon — and rightly so — to intervene in a domestic dispute which had for years been ravaging a noble and courageous country, it was because intervention by other countries had threatened, and still threatened, to endanger international peace and security. 44. It was clearer than ever that such was the case at that point, since operations in the interior of Greece had ceased and were concentrated in border areas, and since there was little likelihood of their being pursued or resumed unless the authorities in neighbouring countries continued to render, or permit, various kinds of assistance to the partisans. 45. Those were the conclusions contained in the report of the United Nations Special Committee on the Balkans.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“That should console the members of the Assembly for the disappointing regularity with which the same questions reappeared at each of the Assembly’s sessions. There was a distressing resemblance between successive agendas, and the old problems lost none of their urgency. That was true of the Balkan problem, which was before the Assembly for consideration for the third time. 43. In that connexion, the French delegation had always indicated, with the greatest precision, what it considered to be the extent of the competence of the United Nations. The domestic affairs of each country, as the Charter expressly laid down, were solely within its sovereign jurisdiction.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“Mr. Schuman said that general discussion was a form of self-examination in the course of which members of the Assembly reviewed the shortcomings and failures of the past, and affirmed their resolve to persevere in their efforts to achieve better results in future. 41. No one could deny that some progress had been made in the past year. The deliberations of the Assembly during the first part of its third session, held in Paris, had been long and laborious. A second part of that session had had to be held in order to complete the agenda. Certain problems had seemed insoluble and had threatened the United Nations with a deadlock. 42. Although complete and lasting solutions had not yet been reached, at least those solutions seemed possible. At times it had even been possible to draw nearer to the goal.”
1949-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 4 (1949)
“But in fact France remained true to itself, in intention and in action, true to its human tradition and to its ideal of fraternity, both within and beyond its borders. France’s ambition, Mr. Schuman concluded, was to be, and to become more and more, a faithful servant of a peaceful and reconciled humanity.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“The lessons of the war and the general evolution of ideas had made it possible for France to accept spontaneously a revision of old ideas and a new formula for the conduct of relations between the mother country and the overseas territories. The charter of that new community was the French Constitution of 1946, which was like a transcription of the principles of the United Nations Charter. The bold measures taken on behalf of unequally developed populations would surely be rewarded by the confidence they inspired and deserved. Thus at every level there was to be found that essential element of confidence without which there would be neither peace, nor security, nor fruitful cooperation. Because of some aspects of its internal politics, France sometimes shocked its friends by its capricious instability.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“They should now be considered and supported by the Governments themselves. In close agreement with the Government of Belgium, the French Government had proposed to follow up the suggestions for a meeting representative of opinion to draft a European organization. Such a meeting would have to weigh all the difficulties and evolve reasonable proposals which would take account of the need for wise and cautious progress. Mr. Schuman went on to say that in the notable speech which the Assembly had applauded the previous day (l44th meeting) the representative of the United Kingdom had emphasized that Great Britain, while remaining the centre of the British Commonwealth, was a European Power. France also would know how to reconcile its position on the Continent with its obligations to the French Union.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“That offer still held good for all Governments, whether of the West or of the East. That was, of course, only the beginning of a great work: its achievement would be beset by difficulties and understandable hesitation. Time would be needed, as well as energy, perseverance and even courage, and final success could be achieved only through the co-operation of all, France in no wise desired to see a Europe divided. God grant that those holding aloof at the present time might not take too long to be convinced of it. Economic union implied political co-operation. Ideas regarding European federation and confederation were gaining ground. The French delegation was happy to see that those ideas were being taken up and studied at many meetings in which the persons most representative of European opinion were taking part.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“Sixteen countries, large and small, had met to drawn up joint production programmes, to expand reciprocal trade, and to 1 share among themselves the credits offered by the American nation. Within those sixteen countries, closer agreements were being prepared. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg had set the example first by establishing the customs union known as Benelux. France and Italy were completing the details of the union which their Governments, with the support of their respective Parliaments, had then and there agreed upon in principle... It was to be hoped that those examples would be followed. For its part France had made it known as long ago as the previous year that it desired to enter into similar agreements with any European country inspired by like motives.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“The new Germany would have to fit itself into democratic Europe. The partition of that old continent, so often and so grievously torn by war, was a relic of the past: a past to be respected and which France would not dream of suppressing, but the present age was that of big economic units and wide political agreements. Europe must unite to survive; France intended to work to that end with all its strength and all its soul. Already a European public opinion was forming and already there were appearing the outlines of concrete efforts which marked the first steps on a new road. The economic reconstruction of Europe was already becoming a reality, through the mutual help of European nations, supplementing the generous aid of the United States of America.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“In Berlin there was a steadily deteriorating situation in regard to currency, transport and municipal administration. In spite of the fact that the former capital of the Reich was divided into four zones, there should be a centralized quadripartite control and administration. But the Assembly would readily understand that such communal life required a minimum of goodwill. France had not found that goodwill on the part of its USSR partner, and as it intended neither to allow itself to be deprived of its rights nor to abandon the population placed in its charge, France was appealing to the United Nations, having after almost two months exhausted every possible way of reaching direct agreement for a solution of the conflict and for ending the forcible blockade imposed and maintained by the USSR authorities.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“If Germany was at present cut in two, it was because the Allies had not succeeded in reaching agreement on methods for a common organization of the four zones from the administrative, economic, monetary and political points of view. The Powers responsible for the three Western zones had thus been led to prepare a separate statute for those territories, which could not remain indefinitely in the same status, three and a half years after the crumbling of the Reich. In London, France had had no intention of approving the partitioning of Germany or of eliminating the USSR, authorities from matters which were of common concern to the Allies in virtue of previous agreements. France’s action had been dictated by the absence of an unanimity, for which it continued to hope but which it could not impose.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“Germany, isolated and prey to an unemployment, had fallen to Hitlerism and, in spite of a democratic constitution, had not resisted the pressure of nationalism. Germany would be democratic only in so far as it could progressively normalize first its economic activities, and then its political life, without being subject to the temptations of a presumptuous hegemony. Deprived as it was now of an autonomous organization, Germany would have to begin by carrying out an internal re-education and then incorporating itself, with its special peculiarities, in the community of European nations. No form of government compatible with democratic principles should be refused to Germany. But the first step must in the nature of things be on a federal basis, which was certainly not incompatible with the principle of German unity.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“Schuman declared however that, whatever importance the French delegation might attach to the questions he had just dealt with, it considered the cardinal problem to be that of Europe, and, within Europe, of Germany. The French representative had been much moved by the account the Polish representative had given (139th meeting) of his countrymen’s sufferings. The French also knew the horrors of German invasion and occupation. France, as well as other nations represented at the Assembly, had been tortured body and soul. Three times invaded in the course of one generation, it did not wish, any more than Poland, to encourage the reconstruction of a Germany capable of aggression. But neither did France wish to associate itself with a policy which would only repeat the mistakes made after the First World War.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“The question of the former Italian colonies was before the General Assembly, following the expiration of the time period of a year which the four great Powers had been given to seek agreement. The French attitude in the matter had always been the same from the beginning. France believed that Italy was competent to administer those territories within the framework and with the safeguards of the trusteeship system, provided, however, that Ethiopia, which had suffered so greatly, should receive the satisfaction to which it was entitled. Other considerations would doubtless be raised in the course of the debate; they would have to be studied, bearing in mind both the requirements of justice and the needs of the peoples of those territories. Mr.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“Before his death Count Bernadotte had sent the United Nations his last report (A/648), containing concrete suggestions for a final settlement of the Palestinian problem. The French delegation was pleased that those suggestions emphasized, as did the resolution of 29 November 1947, a recommendation for an international statute for Jerusalem. That seemed the only solution likely to safeguard the Holy Places, and recent events had confirmed that view. France could not forget its traditional role in that part of the world. For the rest, the Mediator’s proposals could serve as a useful basis of discussion, bearing in mind that their final acceptance by the peoples concerned was still a basic condition of a lasting settlement.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“Almost a year had gone by since the General Assembly had adopted the recommendations contained in resolution 181 (II) concerning Palestine. The French delegation had hoped that those recommendations would have been accepted by the peoples concerned and would have brought peace to the Holy Land. On the contrary, violence had increased. The Security Council had tried to stop the war. The French delegation warmly welcomed the success of its intervention in establishing a truce. France for its part had given the United Nations every assistance that had been asked, and its corps of observers had suffered grave losses. The French delegation paid tribute to the heroism of those great servants of peace, and above all of their chief, who had shown the way of sacrifice.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“The report of the United Nations Special Committee on the Balkans was before the Assembly, and certain decisions would have to be taken in connexion with it. Civil war in Greece was unfortunately not yet ended, though the area of hostilities had been considerably reduced. The question of assistance furnished to the rebels by some of the neighbours of Greece was still open, and the United Nations was therefore bound to continue, and perhaps intensify, its activities in that direction. The United Nations Special Committee on the Balkans, in spite of having been limited in its scope by the regrettable abstention of certain countries, had played an extremely useful part. It would doubtless be necessary to maintain it, at the same time specifying its rights and powers.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“Similar difficulties had been encountered in connexion with a question which was closely allied and perhaps even more significant, that of human rights. The representative of France hoped, however, that during the present session the General Assembly of the United Nations might give final form and unanimous agreement to the declaration submitted to it. France could point there to a long tradition, if not claim a title to discovery. It would rejoice if in the present year, which for France, as for many European countries, marked the hundredth anniversary of a year of great historical events and teachings, there was proclaimed on its soil a declaration of rights which, in turn, would be a milestone on the road of human civilization. There were certain very delicate factual problems on the agenda.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“The important thing was that those limitations should be freely, consciously and reciprocally accepted, then limitations would be the very reflection of independence and the normal exercise of sovereignty. France considered such agreement of greater value than unreal settlements resulting from constraint. Moral disarmament was the complement or a condition of material disarmament. The delegation of the USSR had referred to one of the aspects of moral disarmament the previous year, and the Assembly had naturally condemned unanimously those who were described as warmongers. Such unanimous statements were satisfactory as far as they went; unfortunately, it was less easy to apply such principles, as had been discovered during the Conference on the Freedom of Information at Geneva in the previous spring and summer.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“Unlike the atomic problem, the question of general disarmament had not yet been considered in detail by the Security Council, and was therefore open for future discussion. But it too, could only be settled if a little confidence were again shown in international affairs, and if effective control were loyally accepted by everyone. There was no question of interfering in the domestic affairs of the various countries, and if sovereign rights were brought up as a justification for refusing any serious obligation, then, it might be said that all obligations limited in some respect the sovereign rights of a State. The world could not possibly organize for peace unless each country agreed to certain contractual limitations of its sovereign rights for the common good.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“The report would give rise to protracted controversy, in the course of which passions would undoubtedly be aroused and accusations freely made, of which the present general discussion was already providing a foretaste. In that matter, which dominated the general problem of disarmament, the French delegation considered control to be the fundamental factor. Essential decisions regarding prohibition or limitation were easier to formulate than to enforce; they could be properly applied only in so far as they were combined with a control that was really effective. The French representative felt compelled, with deep regret, to state that in the matter of control, agreement had so far proved to be impossible.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“The representative of France recognized, however, that that was not an essential aspect of the fundamental problems which would have to be considered, among which a leading place must be given to military and moral disarmament. The General Assembly had before it a report from the Security Council on the prohibition and control of atomic weapons (A/579). That was a question of life and death for the world. The Atomic Energy Commission, which the Security Council had set up for the purpose, had worked for more than two years under conditions which reflected great credit on its members, and had done splendid work, with the help of the most highly qualified experts. It was sad to think that, in spite of those efforts, no agreement had been reached and no specific and practical proposals made, though everyone anxiously desired them.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)
“Since, in such a situation, the machinery of the Charter was partially thrown out of gear, the delegation of the United States of America had proposed at the second session that a permanent body should be created to represent the General Assembly and to study, in the intervals between regular sessions, such questions as might be referred to it. The Interim Committee was the outcome of that suggestion under conditions which, whatever might be said, were in perfect accordance with the rules. It had now been at work for ten months. The French delegation was inclined to let it continue at least until the next General Assembly since it considered that no effort should be spared to improve the functioning of the Organization.”
1948-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 3 (1948)