YouSaid · the spoken record

PÉTER

lines on the record: 428
first: 1961-09-24
most recent: 1973-09-24
sittings or episodes: 11
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“On 13 September last, an Assistant Secretary of the Department of State made a statement before the European Affairs Sub-committee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on United States policy regarding Eastern Europe. I do not wish to dwell on the general lines of this report, which makes it clear how policy-makers of the United States would like to use their diplomatic, political, economic and cultural contacts with socialist States against the established systems and lawful developments of these States; nevertheless it would be instructive to analyse these aspects of the report as well.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“Here I come to a crucial point. From most concrete and direct experiences with regard to Hungarian- United States relations, I know full well how at least seemingly insurmountable difficulties can be created by official organs of the United States in the way of normal contacts based upon a minimum of mutual confidence. 102. Since the United States delegation proposed the inclusion of the so-called question of Hungary in the agenda, and because our experiences in this respect reveal some aspects of United States policy in a more comprehensive way, I wish to inform the General Assembly of some developments behind the scenes. 103.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“A whole series of official statements on our part have expounded our view that what peaceful coexistence means is not merely to exist simultaneously, but also to live and act together, to bear common responsibilities at least for the most vital problems of the present generation and to undertake those tasks with mutual confidence established through negotiations. In this respect, words are of no great value. Deeds speak for themselves. It is good to hear that a United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union, at the presentation of his credentials, speaks of the common tasks and responsibilities of the Soviet Union and the United States — the giants of our times, as it was said here — for solving the most urgent problems of the present generation; but deeds should precede and accompany and follow such utterances. 101.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“To sum up the foregoing observations: the practice of peaceful coexistence should rest on the programme of a disarmed world instead of on universal fear of deterrents, on world-wide co-operation Instead of on efforts to create integrated camps directed against one another. 100. To depart from the present way of coexistence based on enormous stockpiles of nuclear weapons and on the organization of antagonistic groupings, a certain degree of mutual trust and a sense of responsibility should be aimed at from every side.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“The Soviet proposal for a universal conference on problems of world trade corresponds to these demands and takes into consideration the specific problems of the capitalistic West and the developing States of Asia, Africa and Latin America to the same extent as those of the socialist countries. The composition of the organ of world trade envisaged by this proposal should certainly reflect the three groups of States having specific problems of their own. Delegations representing different quarters of the world have already come out in this general debate with their support for such a universal conference. My delegation joins with them in supporting the Soviet proposal. 99.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“However, the present problems of the world are so interdependent that, for the sake of all, we wish to take the chances of this competition with a minimum of trouble even for the Western societies. 97. Properly speaking, as President Sékou Touré put it into words, "it is not the form of the economic relations that must be changed but their very nature". The solution of world economic problems must be searched for on an entirely new basis, by taking into consideration the most varied particularities of each group of States and by seeking to satisfy the specific interests of nations living under different conditions and having different historical backgrounds. 98.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“The leaders of the European Economic Community seem not to be aware of all this, at least as far as Africa is concerned, and make no secret of their desire to achieve a political community of Europe which cannot be reconciled with Africa's desire for political independence; Africa remains as grimly hostile as ever to the division of Africa which began with the Congress of Berlin in 1885. 96. Consequently, these integration endeavours, hostile to one or another part of the world, are so much misconceived that we have no reason to be afraid of them. They will speed up antagonistic processes in the West to such an extent that from the strict point of view of a competition between socialism and capitalism we would have every reason even to stimulate and propagate them.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“The African nations are realizing that in order to solve their urgent social problems they must speed up the transformation of their trade economy, and if this is to be done through industrialization, it cannot be done within the limits of our national micro-economies. But unconditional integration into a multi-national market consisting of highly developed and underdeveloped nations negates the possibility of industrial development in advance, it could only be the association of horse and rider ...”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“He continued: "We become no more than Texas or California in the United States of Europe. It means the end of a thousand years of history. It means the end of the Commonwealth .. .". 95. What does the integration problem look like when seen from another part of the world, for instance, Guinea? President Sékou Touré, in his recent article on Africa's future and the world in the quarterly review, Foreign Affairs, stated: "Actually, the difficulties appearing within the European Common Market with regard to the renewal of Association Agreements made by certain African nations prove that it is not the form of the economic relations that must be changed but their very nature. "Here, as in other realms, the interests of the African peoples are one, and the awareness of this unity is rapidly becoming more and more explicit.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“They are so much against the nature of the present world situation, against the necessity of universal co-operation, that certainly they are doomed to failure. Any such effort at unnatural unilateral integration will lead to new disintegration in the West. It will create new antagonisms between the Western military allies. It will sharpen the contradictions between the interests of ex-colonial Powers and former colonies. It will speed up the disintegration of any Commonwealth and community construction. 94. Many relevant statements may be quoted in this respect. Permit me to quote only two of them. In England, for instance, Labour Party leader Mr. Gaitskell warned his countrymen recently that political union with Europe in the Common Market meant the end of Britain as an independent nation.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“In order to prepare for peaceful competition, they say, the West needs integration. 92. The assumption is that by linking other areas with the Common Market they could establish further integrated regional communities — for instance, an Atlantic community, a South-East Asian community, and soon. What a revealing conception. Along the frontiers of the socialist States in Europe and Asia, in about twenty countries allied with the United States, aggressive military bases have already been set up. Beyond this chain of military installations they would like to create a chain of economic communities to encircle the socialist States and to give an economic background to their aggressive military alliances. 93. Do not misunderstand me. We are not frightened by such pretentious perspectives.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“In order to depart from this precarious situation and to embark on renewed and successful negotiations in the interest of general and complete disarmament, the Western Powers should be convinced of the harmfulness of all sorts of theories regarding the "peace-making" effect of any balance of deterrents. 91. Another pretentious ambition is being propagated in the West, seemingly in favour of the perspective of peaceful coexistence, but in reality with a view to undermining it. I refer to the all-out efforts at unilateral integration in the West, such as the European Common Market. The protagonists of such endeavours keep saying that negotiation and co-operation in the form of competition between East and West are really the only peaceable alternative to a nuclear disaster.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“As a matter of fact, the Western Powers holding this view nolens volens do a service to the Soviet Union; in fact, by proclaiming that the balance of power is a guarantee against nuclear war, they admit that the military might of the Soviet Union is the main guarantee of peace, for it is by the development of Soviet nuclear power that the so-called balance has come about. On the other hand, an exemplification of how much the theory of power balance maybe used for stimulating the armaments race has been given by the recent United States-Israeli agreement for selling missiles to Israel under the pretext of keeping the balance of power in the Middle East. 90. Coexistence in these days under the constant threat of a nuclear disaster rests upon the enormous stockpiles of nuclear weapons.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“The Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union rightly stated in his intervention in the general debate [1127th meeting] that: "...to base the policies of States on a feeling of universal fear would be tantamount to keeping the world in a permanent state of feverish tension and war- anticipating hysteria. In such a situation each State would fear that the other side's nerves might snap, and it will make the first shot... "The militaristic doctrine of the 'balance of fear' is just half a step away from the even more dangerous doctrine of preventive nuclear war." 89.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“First of all, there are quite a few artificially forged and capricious slogans and notions which are opposed to improving international relations. Some Western political quarters nurture the idea that the balance of power, the so-called deterrent character of thermo-nuclear weapons, may serve as a guarantee of peace. Those who give heed to such misleading slogans become paralysed when facing the problems of disarmament. Their contribution to international life is nothing but an offer for the nations to live forever under the shadow of the constant danger of a thermonuclear war. 88.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“It is self-evident that, at a time when there exists only one alternative, either to march inevitably and irrevocably towards a thermo-nuclear holocaust or to secure the peaceful competition of coexisting nations with different systems, any attempt to revitalize the so-called "policy of brinkmanship" is a more detestable crime against mankind than any that has gone before. 86. Certainly, the best news which delegations to the seventeenth session of the General Assembly could hope to carry home to their respective Governments and peoples would be that some of the obstacles in the way of developing peaceful coexistence and co-operation had been removed, and that at the same time some new indications of mutual confidence had been created. That would be the best of all news, and there can be no doubt about that. 87.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“According to all indications, the peoples are tired of this light-minded gambling with the chances of war and peace. 84. In a thoroughgoing interview which appeared in the U.S. News & World Report of 17 September 1962, the United States Senate majority leader, Mr. Mansfield, stated: "I am afraid that the majority of the people, as I see it, would like to be left alone. I think many of them are afraid to face up to the complex and complicated problems which confront us today "People are tired. After all, it is understandable. The world has been at war, in effect, since 1939. There has been no peace since that time." 85.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“The present unrealistic, bellicose steps will result in even more humiliating failures. 83. Against all reasonable thinking, one has the impression that we are witnessing a revival of the so often, and justly, criticized "brinkmanship" of the late John Foster Dulles, Many of the actual measures and the sharp utterances of official organs of the United States remind us of the dreadful principle of the time when we were told that "the ability to get to the verge of war without getting into war is the necessary art". Shall we again experience adventurous experimentation with the destiny of present and future generations by hot-headed and blind politicians who enjoy walking to the brink of war at a time when any miscalculation might have unpredictable consequences?”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“82. The prestige of the previous Administration of the United States was never so much exalted in world public opinion as at the time of the so-called Camp David talks. On the other hand, the prestige of the same Administration never fell so low as at the time of the scandalous spy flight when in a period of negotiations, a sinister attempt was made to undermine existing understanding about certain aspects of peaceful coexistence. In the same way, the reputation of the present Administration of the United States was exalted everywhere when a readiness for reasonable negotiations was shown. Again, in the same way, the reputation of this Administration suffered much damage whenever, instead of reasonable talks, it resorted to aggressive preparations as in the case of Laos or at the time of the abortive invasion of Cuba.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“It is most regrettable that peaceful coexistence is at stake in these very times when otherwise there would be realistic prospects for a radical elimination of the danger of world wars. 81. The policy-makers of certain Western Powers try to make believe that the policy of peaceful coexistence, since it is advocated most consistently by socialist countries, would turn out exclusively to the advantage of the socialist States. Obvious and stubborn facts contradict any allegation of this kind. A few examples will be sufficient to show to what extent the practice of peaceful coexistence, and even hesitating steps towards it, would be in the common interest of all. Any effort made to consolidate co-operation and peaceful competition between different groups of nations may create honest and favourable conditions for the Western Powers as well.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“If the problems of Africa are to be understood, analyzed and solved, we must take into consideration the historical, economic, social, moral and cultural conditions which shape Africa's particular identity in the world — elements of the African evolution, in which total emancipation of the African peoples remains the main objective." 80. As a consequence of all the implications contained in this quotation referring to peaceful coexistence in an ever-changing world, we keep under consideration not only States having socialist or capitalist systems, but also the peoples of the newly independent nations who devise specific patterns to solve their economic and social problems.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“When the Charter laid down before the world that the peoples of the United Nations were determined to "live together in peace with one another as good neighbours", the world was already divided and the Charter was signed by representatives of three different groups of nations. There were represented not only socialist and capitalist countries, but newly independent nations as well which had already embarked on a search for their own solutions to their special problems. 79. In this connexion, regarding African States, President Sékou Touré of Guinea stated in a recent article: "...the interpretations made by foreign 'specialists' in African affairs are as a rule based on the conditions of their own social milieu, and thus take little account of the specific conditions of the various African societies.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“Under the shadow of these dangers I am going to select some of the actual political problems of peaceful coexistence as the main subject-matter of my intervention. We must be mindful of the imperatives of peaceful coexistence precisely at a juncture of our life when peaceful coexistence is at stake again. 77. In representing Hungary, a country which has suffered so much for centuries and which is now realizing the best aspirations of present and past generations, my delegation has particular reason to concentrate on the international events which endanger the chances of peaceful coexistence and make it precarious. 78. The United Nations, according to its very conception, should be the conscious body of coexisting nations with different social systems.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“According to French publications, instructions to President de Gaulle's night duty officers run as follows: "Do not disturb the President of the Republic except in case of world war." It may sound rather peculiar, and we may even enjoy the spirit of this new "Gaullism", but at the same time it is very seriously characteristic of the present situation. Night duty officers have to be vigilant indeed, because the moment may come any night when the President must be awakened. So many spots indifferent corners of the world have become for certain reasons so critical that local wars, regional showdowns and, in consequence, a thermo-nuclear world conflagration, may start at any moment. Tremendous dangers overshadow the world and overshadow many of our agenda items, especially the topics dealt with in this general debate. 76.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“I repeat that in favourable conditions we are ready to help the United States Government to get rid of this "cold-war" issue. 220. In this spirit of co-operation, my delegation wishes that at this session the General Assembly may do away with all "cold war" issues and concentrate every effort upon eliminating the causes of the present deterioration and consolidating international peace and security. 221. Last but not least, Mr. President, I wish to extend to you and to the other officers, on behalf of my delegation, our congratulations and our best wishes that under your guidance the Assembly , at this session, may work successfully towards strengthening the forces of peace.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“This summer important negotiations were conducted with the President of the General Assembly at its fifteenth session and with some delegations here—among others, with authorities of the United States—about a possible visit of Mr. Boland to Hungary. Everybody seemed to be happy. Then, at the last moment came the United States proposal. The explanations for the change of mood were whispered into the ears of our diplomats in very brief terms; you know, it is because of Berlin. 219. We are ready to make it easy for the United States to get rid of this question without losing face. But it is also clear that until this question is removed from the agenda we are riot in a position to negotiate. We have much patience. We have plenty of time, and time is working for us.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Therefore, I paid due attention to that gesture of the United States. This happened on the very day when the United. States delegation presented its proposal to the Secretariat for the inclusion of the so-called question of Hungary. 218. Many representatives here will remember that, for three weeks or so during the resumed fifteenth session, the General Assembly did not work at all; we just waited for the results of the Soviet-United States talks regarding a possible debate on the question of disarmament. Nevertheless, at the end of the session the representative of the United States stated that it was for lack of time that the question of Hungary was not debated.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Moreover, not only are we not too much Interested in it, but even to the United States Government it would seem more agreeable if it could get rid of it. It was introduced by the United States delegation as a piece of unfinished business. In its present form on the agenda it is in itself contrary to the political intentions of the United States regarding Europe. However, the United States delegation does not know how to finish it. I am speaking quite frankly. The recent facts in this respect are the following. 217. When I left Budapest for this session of the Assembly, the Charge d'affaires of the United States came to the airport upon his own initiative to see me off. No protocol rules required such a gesture, since I am h6re exclusively on account of the United Nations.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Of course, we are convinced that through this competition socialism will prevail all over the world, but we realize—and we do not mind—that faithful representatives of capitalism profess the same conviction regarding their own system. Let us show the results of our respective systems in a constructive competition for the betterment of human life, but without interfering with the domestic affairs of each other. 215. Just here I must say a special word regarding the so-called question of Hungary, since once again, as a routine act of the United States, it has been placed on the agenda of the General Assembly. 216. Frankly speaking, we are not too much interested in this fact. I say so with all respect for the United Nations.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“One of the distinguished speakers here, although maintaining the necessity of peaceful coexistence, regards this very principle as the most sterile and negative conception of international life produced in the twentieth century. Well, peaceful coexistence has as much content as coexisting nations may be able to bring together. 214. In the present situation, peaceful coexistence is the form of constructive competition of the two systems existing in our world today. On our part, the competition is really constructive. In all fields of international contacts we wish to strengthen friendly feelings, among nations.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“If the Secretariat can be reshaped in such a way as to reflect the main composition of this Organization, this will open new possibilities for the United Nations in the International field. This Organization may truly be a guarantee of the peaceful" coexistence of Member States with differing social, economic and political systems. The Charter itself is a reflection of the principles of peaceful coexistence of States with differing systems. Exactly in the present state of deterioration of the world situation we have every reason to emphasize the validity and the true perspectives of the idea of peaceful coexistence. 213.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“The basic intention was that this Organization should help the five great Powers to cooperate in all major world issues. The difficulties arose when a group of Member States departed from this principle and tried to use this Organization for the power policy of one group of States against another group of States. Even today the principle of the consensus of the five great founding Powers is disputed by those quarters which would like to use this Organization against its main purposes and against some Member States. 211. Deeply convinced that the principles of the Charter are right and that they are the best precondition for further fruitful activities in this Organization, we think that the same principle is to be applied in reorganizing the Secretariat. 212.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Owing to the growth of the Organization, this originally purely administrative function has become more and more of a political character. In the complexities of the present world situation, administering the implementation of Security Council decisions and General Assembly resolutions demands from the Secretariat more and more political activities. Even formal administration has become a whole series of political actions. 209. If that is so, as it certainly is, then it becomes necessary to apply the same spirit in reorganizing the functions and structure of the Secretariat as is reflected in the Charter. 210. When the principles of the functioning of the Security Council were conceived, the founders of this Organization kept in view the necessity of the co-operation of the five great Powers for the sake of peace and security.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“It is clear that the People's Republic of China will grow and develop from all points of view of political and economic life even without the United Nations. The United Nations, however, is not able to fulfil its tasks without the participation of the People's Republic of China. 208. As to the problems of reorganization of the functions and structure of the Secretariat, my delegation would like to offer two observations for consideration. Since the establishment of the United Nations, as a result of the growing membership and the tasks entrusted to the Organization, the functions of the Secretariat have increased and changed in character. The Secretary-General is qualified by the Charter as the chief administrative officer of the Organization.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“There is a sharp contrast between what he saw there and what he had heard here about China. In the face of this discrepancy the author states on page 389: "I ... do not believe you can fake a whole country, and I think in all significant respects this book presents a fair and honest account of what is going on in China today. If this is so, or if only half the facts that I have presented, or even one-tenth of them, are true, then it becomes clear that the American people have been most seriously misinformed .... A nation which allows itself to be deluded to this extent is on a dangerous path." No doubt, this applies even more to this Organization. If it allows itself to be deluded once again, it chooses a dangerous path.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“.when New Zealand, with the obvious approval of the United States, proposed that the question of Chinese representation be debated by the Assembly... The United States'... recommendation will be that the whole matter go to a committee which will study all questions of U.N. reorganization until next year. Thus, in effect, U.S. strategy is to gain a new postponement, but by different tactics." 206. The General Assembly would only do harm to this Organization, to the world situation in general., and even to the United States, if it yielded to these new tactics. 207. The other day a book was published in the United States under the title Awakened China, the Country Americans Don't Know, written by Felix Greene, an American reporter of British origin who has recently travelled in many parts of China.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Those who have acted here in the name of China have not been and could not be recognized as such even by those who have so far prevented the delegation of the Government of the People's Republic of China from taking its place here. 205. The former practice of the United States delegation of barring any debate on the representation of China would not work this year, because the sense of reality of the delegations would reject any such manoeuvres known from previous sessions. We are met here with a new strategy. It is an open secret. Newsweek, in the 25 September issue, stated: "After a long summer of bargaining the U.S. delegation was ready with a new and complex strategy to block Communist China. It was launched ..”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Therefore, the General' Assembly would act to the benefit of peaceful development in general if it translated into deeds the words of the declaration on the liquidation of the colonial system adopted by the General Assembly at its fifteenth session. 204. The present session of the General Assembly has the great chance of turning the United Nations into a veritable world organization by restoring the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China in its ranks. So far it has really been an awkward situation for the General Assembly to deal with world problems without the participation of lawful representatives of one-quarter of the whole population of our globe.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“He said: "Economic development or lack of it is primarily due to differences in people and in their attitudes." Of course, he was very much for private establishments. He even said: "Government-to-government financial aid cannot successfully be used to gain and hold political advantages for the country supplying the funds." This is how monopoly capitalism is speaking even today. 203. To help oppressed peoples to get rid of the powerful influence of the monopoly capital of the colonizing Powers is not only a humanitarian action towards them; it is also beneficial to the family of nations in general, because the representatives of the newly independent nations are deeply interested in lessening world tensions, liquidating war dangers and securing constructive co-operation among nations.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Such attempts make it even more evident that the colonial Powers deal with the problems of liquidating colonial rules only when they are inevitably compelled to do so, but even then they try to exploit the debate for stirring up cold-war controversies in order to shelve the real issue. 202. The way monopoly capitalists look on problems of economic under-development, when they are not confronted by so many delegations to the United Nations interested in the matter, may be seen in a report presented recently to the Finance Ministers of the States members of the International Finance Corporation. The American president of the Corporation, Mr. Garner, stated that the fault of poverty lay with the nations that are poor. He dismissed as a cause of under-development even the past history of colonialism.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“An ever-growing deep feeling of solidarity is being born between socialist nations and nations on the way to new development. And this feeling of solidarity is growing regardless of their differing social and political systems. 201. The General Assembly at this session will certainly continue to deal with the problems regarding liquidation of the colonial system. There were some indications during the last session that certain colonial Powers would like to utilize the cause of anti- colonialism for their cold-war intentions at the expense of peoples under genuine colonial rule. There have been indications of such attempts already in this debate as well.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“At the expense of nations emerging from colonial subjugation, we could be on more favourable terms with colonial powers. They have already acquiesced in the fact that socialism is a definitely established system in our countries. The main reason for their antagonizing the socialist States lies in their fear that the very existence and growth of the socialist countries will accelerate the liberation movements of colonial territories. The economic and cultural contact of socialist countries with the newly independent nations are not based on profit business and are not hampered by any political strings. An unprecedented, new type of unselfish co-operation among nations is being shaped that is entirely unimaginable from the point of view of monopoly capital.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“The mutual understanding that may be strengthened even in this general debate may contribute to extinguishing the dangerous vestiges of the Second World War which otherwise could easily turn into the germs of a third world war. 200. The deepest cause of the present deterioration of the world situation lies in the steady process of liquidation of the colonial system. Monopoly capitalists interested in colonial exploitation use all their influences with Western political circles in order to stop and if possible to reverse, or at least to divert, the historical developments tending towards the national independence of all peoples living under colonial rule. For the socialist countries it would be easy to establish better relations with some Western Powers if we were ready to bargain with them over their colonial interests.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“We look forward to the time when both German States will be Members of this Organization. After the full recognition of the two sovereign German States their legally established Governments may pave the way for their co-operation and for one or another form of federation. 199. Delegations in this Assembly coming from different continents of the globe will certainly understand that in the present situation we, the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, are especially and deeply interested in the peaceful settlement of controversial issues related to the German situation. We live in that part of the globe where two world wars started. In our endeavours to liquidate all causes of war forever, one of the most immediate tasks is to eradicate the dangers of war in connexion with the German situation.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“If, for the time being, the Federal Republic of Germany and some Western Powers do not heed the necessity of time, a separate treaty with the German Democratic Republic will be concluded. 197. The Hungarian National Assembly, which is in session these days, has adopted a declaration on this point in which it states: "The need of international security makes it imperative for present-day history to give in 1961, at long last, a satisfactory answer to this, one of the most important questions of international life." 198. The people and the Government of Hungary have close and friendly relations with the people and Government of the German Democratic Republic in the political, economic and cultural fields alike. We expect the conclusion of the peace treaty in the near future to open a new era of friendly co-operation of nations in Europe.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“However, one should hope that a new era of positive thinking will really come to open up the deadlock of the nuclear deaf mutes, and it will be realized that confusion will not decrease if new confusing factors are added and the lack of realistic political thinking cannot be concealed by military demonstrations. It would be beneficial to the general world situation if all interested Powers recognized the necessity and possibility of signing a peace treaty with both German States and of settling the status of West Berlin through reasonable negotiations. This development is inevitable. No doubt about that, because all the real and decisive forces of the present European situation are working in this direction.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Walter Lippmann defined the origin of the difficulties of the West in a must candid and condensed way: "The Western (European) Governments, knowing that the main architects of that policy (on Germany) were men who wanted only to stand firm and stand pat, saw no future in what they were told was the [United States] policy. Since August 13, when the un- realism of the policy was revealed, there has been a sufficient revival of positive thinking in Washington to open up the grim deadlock of the nuclear deaf mutes." 196. In the noise of the alarming events created by Western military moves and continued threats, not much concrete indication of a revival of positive thinking is to be seen as yet.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Should one say that we are witnessing another sort of Laotian experience in a European milieu? We can remember, and we should remember, that the crisis of Laos started with a declaration of neutrality of the lawful Government of Laos. Against this policy of neutrality Western forces organized all sorts of counter- measures; later they applied most ostentatious military and naval demonstrations. And after all this they were compelled to come out with the same slogan of neutrality against which they vociferated before. 195. I should not like to misuse statements of public figures of the United States. Many of them could be quoted as reflecting the actual reality of the two German States. I cannot help quoting one. I hope I shall not do him an injustice. Mr.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Provocative demonstrations and ostentatious visits are being organized in and around West Berlin. The irresponsibility behind all these measures is enormous because the slightest miscalculation on the part of any local commander may inflame a tremendous pyre in the heart of Europe that could lead to a world conflagration. What is the use of these alarming noises? 194. Should one suppose that the Western Powers, having no realistic and proper policy for settling the German question as a whole at the present moment when they inevitably have to face the reality of the two German States in order to safeguard their prestige, wish to show that they could achieve by their so-called firm stand and fighting spirit what in any case would come about through peaceful negotiations ?”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“The Soviet Government is ready to agree to the use of troop contingents of neutral States or United Nations troops as guarantors of the status of the free city." [1016th meeting, para.71.]* He also said: "In the implementation of our proposal for a peace treaty there is no question of banning access to West Berlin or of a blockade as some people try to assert. No, the free city of West Berlin would have the right to establish ties with any country of any continent." 193. The intentions of the proposals are favourable to all those interested in the peace and security of Europe. It is rather difficult to understand why certain Western Powers are bursting with indignation. The alarming noise is becoming more dangerous day by day. Troops and armaments are being mobilized and accumulated along the bonders of the German Democratic Republic.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)