YouSaid · the spoken record

Prince NORODOM SIHANOUK

lines on the record: 244
first: 1958-09-24
most recent: 1983-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
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

“But apart from these considerations, we must recognize that sooner or later the United Nations will be compelled to admit the Peopled Republic of China. We can also foresee with misgiving that, if the time is put off still further, a moment may come when the Organization will be forced not only to permit, but to beg the People’s Republic of China to join our number. Then the prestige and authority of the United Nations may well be impaired, perhaps irremediably, 20. Having said this, may I now turn on behalf of Cambodia towards the delegations of those countries which are sitting among us for the first time, to offer them our warmest greetings and confirm once more the joy felt by the Cambodian people at seeing them attain full rational sovereignty and assume their rightful place in the concert of nations. 21.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“And has it never occurred to these unbending critics that certain Members of the United Nations are very far from behaving better than the People’s Republic of China with regard to weaker neighbours, without anyone suggesting that they might be considered unworthy of sitting among us? It is, indeed, somewhat surprising that in many oases greater attention and greater consideration seem to be shown to those who are constantly infringing the rights of peoples and creating disturbances and discord. Thus my country has seen part of its territory occupied by one of its neighbours while another carried out armed incursions on our soil and threatened to wrest from us all our off-shore islands, without the great Powers who make so many moral pronouncements being in the least disturbed. 19.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“But while small nations numbering one, two or — as in our own case— five million people can sit in the United Nations, we feel it to be senseless and tragic that the nation with the largest population in the world, and one of the most deserving of countries from the standpoint of nation-building, should still be treated as a pariah. 17. Certain critics of the People’s Republic of China regularly oppose its admission to the United Nations, justifying their obstructive attitude by references to the Tibet affair and the frontier dispute between India and the People’s Republic of China. Yet India, the country mainly concerned in the frontier dispute and the most qualified observer of events in Tibet, remains convinced of the need for admitting the People’s Republic of China to this great assembly. 18.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“In this connexion — since we are nobody’s satellites, maintain with the People’s Republic of China nothing but relations of friendship on a footing of equality, and therefore cannot be reproached with a biased or Servile attitude — we feel it our duty to insist once again, in all objectivity and without heat, that the General Assembly revise its position on the admission to the United Nations of the People’s Republic of China. 16. Every year the United Nations throws its doors wide open to many nations which have gained or recovered their independence. This is greatly to the credit of the Organization, which has set out with the noble aim of attaining universality; and we are most happy that our, African brothers, so long subjected to the laws of foreign colonialism, should at last be able to make their voice heard as free men.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Once the long-desired agreement had been arrived at, it would then, and only then, be logical for the procedure adopted to be submitted to all the medium-sized and small nations. We can hardly see how such complicated discussions could lead to anything of substance within the framework of an over-large assembly, as opposed to a small committee. 15. We should like also to draw the General Assembly’s attention to the uselessness and absurdity of ignoring the People’s Republic of China and of thinking that the major problems, and first and fore most peace and war, can be settled without the participation, as of right, in all international conferences of the legitimate representatives of at people numbering 700 million, of a nation whose strength is growing continually.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“We hope that these nations will thus be sensible of their immense responsibilities with regard to our civilization and the destiny of everything living on our planet, and will seek, with greater sincerity, a ground for agreement and a sound policy for general disarmament. We think, in fact, that the General Assembly could exercise a great moral Influence in this search for the settlement of a problem which as so far been rendered virtually insoluble because of the mistrust between the leading nations of the two blocs. 14. However, given the complexity of this problem and the way in which an agreement would be applied, we think it would be desirable to leave to the great Powers responsible for war and peace, for over armament and disarmament, the task of discussing it and getting to the root of it.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“But what we ask of them, what we beg of them, is to give up the extravagant arming of medium-sized and small countries, the moral arming of peoples — whose sole desire is to live in peace — with a view to persuading them, to kill each other under the false pretext of the anticommunist or anti-imperialist struggle. 13. However, to return to atomic disarmament, which remains a matter of prime interest to us, we think that the General Assembly will be able to contribute greatly, if not decisively, to it by reaffirming to the atomic Powers the feeling of all the peoples. This feeling, which cannot be doubted, quite clearly amounts to total and unanimous rejection of the use of atomic power for military purposes, including tests.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“And if our Far East has not yet become an erupting volcano, it is not for lack of explosive conditions which our friends, like sorcerers’ apprentices, have assembled there, but is thanks to what remains — though it is daily being whittled away — of tolerance and will to peace on the part of the peoples of South Asia. 12. Having said this, I would state my personal view that our country would not, whatever happens, approve the possible use of atomic bombs. It is equally our desire that the great Powers should soon be in a position to dismantle these devices, which do great honour to their inventive genius.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“I would therefore like to draw the attention of the Assembly to the fact that, for small nations like ours, over-armament in conventional weapons represents an immediate danger, infinitely greater than that of the costly nuclear weapons whose use the manufacturing Powers have hitherto reserved to themselves, while proclaiming aloud the full horror of atomic war! Some even think that the existence of these terrible weapons so frightens the Governments as to prevent them from boldly launching a "hot war", and cause them to fall back on a "tepid" war. This "tepid" war can in fact be waged without risk to the principals instigating it, as it is carried on through small "interposed” nations in various parts of the world, and particularly in the countries of South East Asia haying a common frontier with Cambodia.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Conventional weapons which have become obsolete are being distributed ever more widely, with touching generosity, to countries that are courted by the imperialists and are easily persuaded to accept these attributes of power and progress! This secondary aspect of the arms race — the doling-out of obsolete but nevertheless highly dangerous weapons to small "lined-up" nations — is one that is causing increasing concern among our own people. 11. Today, when the great Powers speak of disarmament, it would seem that they think primarily in terms of nuclear weapons and do not attach sufficient importance to these obsolete "toys” which merely destroyed a few tens of millions of men during the Second World War.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“But today, having heard the unambiguous statements of Mr. Eisenhower, President of the United States [868th meeting] and of Mr. Khrushchev, Prime Minister of the USSR [869th meeting], we are certainly not alone in thinking that disarmament is possible and that it will become more and more difficult to justify further conferences which lead to no conclusion. The giants have spoken to us of their will to disarm and each has convinced us of his good faith. 10. As the President of the United Arab Republic has very rightly stressed in his speech [873rd meeting] what is now required is for this common will to be translated into action, as in the meantime progress in the manufacture of ever more deadly weapons is continuing at a prodigious rate.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“The great leaders have justified their participation in this session by the vital importance of this problem and by the need to find a satisfactory and lasting solution to it. In this respect we have been struck by the statements made by the distinguished representatives of the world's two greatest military Powers, since both express the same conviction that disarmament is essential. This unanimity on the main issue cannot but be encouraging, even though differences on points of detail may remain. 9. Disarmament is certainly an extremely complex problem, as the great producers of armaments do not fail to remind us in justifying the interminable discussions which continue fox months, then are broken off and then are taken up again — "hot-and-cold shower" treatment fox an anxious world.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“However, if the peaceable Cambodian people has sent me to this Assembly for the second time, it is in order that I should express its anxiety and deep dismay at the growing deterioration of the international situation and at the tragic consequences of the ideological war which is being waged by the two blocs in the countries which border on our own. 7. Since the United Nations has done us the honour to accept us as a Member, I would ask the Assembly for permission to present our humble contribution to the search for a solution to the very serious problems of peace, justice and freedom for all men, these being the problems which alone justify the presence of all of us here. 8. The problem which chiefly exercises the minds of all peoples is undoubtedly that of disarmament.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“In fact, we ourselves only just escaped this position of being an international "star”. 5. Our little country comes before the Assembly today with none of the attributes which attract international attention. It is poor; it is sparsely populated; it enjoys peace and internal stability; yet it is bold enough to follow its own course and to refuse obstinately to take sides with one camp or another, even the "neutralist" one. In these circumstances, how could we not be aware of the slightness of our influence, how could we not be a little ashamed of coming before the world simply as a "neutral” ? 6.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“However, we find reason for optimism — moderate optimism, of course — in the presence here in our General Assembly, for the first time in United Nations history, of so many national leaders. Our optimism makes us feel that their presence is due both to awareness of the importance of our Organization and to solidarity between Governments, each of which, whether it be weak or strong, bears some share of responsibility for the future of mankind as a whole. 4. Despite its fourteen centuries of history, Cambodia is fully aware of its weakness and hence of its insignificance in a world which belongs either to the powerful (particularly if they are "atomic” Powers) or to those who are fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to represent a more or less vital stake, or sometimes even a bargaining counter, for one bloc or the other.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“Like many of the nations who are our friends, Cambodia attaches very great Importance to this fifteenth session of the United Nations General Assembly. Its importance has Indeed already been under lined in the words spoken by the eminent statesmen who have preceded me, and by the high Level which the discussions seem called upon to attain. 2. I shall, therefore, as representative of the Cambodian nation, take the liberty of giving voice to certain thoughts which, though they may not have the merit of originality, express the views of the Khmer people on a number of questions, 3. First of all, it is my duty to say how sad and distressed we are at the revival of the cold war between the two blocs, after a period of "detente" which small peoples like ours hoped to see develop into lasting reconciliation and cordial co-operation.”
1960-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 15 (1960)
“We flatter ourselves that our attitude, which is to examine every question without preconceived ideas and make our decision according to our conception of justice, is fully in harmony with the ideas of the architects of the United Nations. We are too small and too weak to dare to undertake a crusade for the restoration of freedom of choice; but we believe that that freedom could greatly ease this continued tension, which may well be fatal to humanity. And in conclusion, let me express the hope that other Powers which are more important or carry more weight in international affairs will take the initiative of a campaign, in the highest interests of peace, for tolerance and wisdom against divisions and hate; we shall support them with all our energy.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“One of our neighbours, by refusing to sign the armistice agreements in Geneva in 1954, was able to ban the Communist party in its country without being open to criticism. We, who signed the agreements and always respect the undertakings we have signed, have had to allow a Communist group to operate legally in our country. Allow me to say that the loyalty to the throne and the national spirit of our people have provided a most effective barrier against the activities of our "Reds", who have not been able to get a single one of their party members elected to Parliament and obtained only a negligible number of votes — not even 1 per cent of the votes cast at the last elections in March 1958 — as compared with 3 per cent in September 1955. 35.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“We could not seriously think of settling the Formosa affair and its dependencies without the participation of the Peking Government or by inviting it to discuss the matter in the waiting-room. We could not really put an end to the testing of nuclear weapons as long as China, considered beyond the pale and not responsible to anyone for its actions, could offer the help of its scientists and a refuge in its immense territory for the research or experiments which a friendly Power might request it to carry out. 34. It is obviously in our interest in every way for China to undertake to respect the rules of our Organization, for the countries which have not been able or have not wished to enter into international commitments have usually had nothing to lose and everything to gain by not doing so.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“It would seem that it is in the Assembly's interests to prevent any confusion in peoples' minds regarding this fundamental aspect of the Organization, which governs the whole conception of its mission, and that the Assembly should decide as soon as possible what it really is. It is only after we have made this essential decision that we can settle the matters which always arise in connexion with the admission of new Members. But, if the United Nations were to decide that it was a club of peace-loving nations, it might be wise to consider not only what would make nations ineligible for admission but also when countries which were already Members should be disqualified from membership on account of their policies or warlike activities. 33. Moreover, in addition to the discussion of principles, there is a question of Common sense.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The Cambodian delegation, like other non-communist countries, has supported the candidature of the People's Republic of China because it considers that keeping China out of our Assembly does more harm than good. We explained our reasons yesterday [754th meeting] and will not repeat them now. 31. An objection of form has been brought forward which nevertheless is worthy of consideration. Certain very influential Members have said that the General Assembly should not be considered as a sort of universal super-parliament or one tending towards universality, but as a club of peace-loving countries to which only nations applying certain ethical principles and fulfilling certain conditions can be admitted. 32.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“May I at least express the hope that the greatest possible number of Member states in this Assembly will concentrate their efforts on paving the way to an understanding between these two great nations, instead of supporting unconditionally one or other of the opposing Powers, thus making the situation increasingly complicated? The delegation of the Kingdom of Cambodia considers that this is an urgent necessity. 29. We also feel that the cause of the present crisis must be attributed to the fact that the People's Republic of China is still excluded from the United Nations. Its exclusion has produced a feeling of frustration in China and has certainly been largely responsible for the stiffening of China's attitude to the West. 30.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The United States of America, undeniably sincere in its attachment to certain democratic principles which it believes to be the only principles for the salvation of mankind in freedom and dignity, has frequently aired its grievances against the People's Republic of China. Its argument is too well known for me to repeat it here. The Chinese Communists, on the other hand, told me when I visited Peking recently that the only question dividing them from the United States was that of Taiwan (Formosa); once that problem was settled, there was nothing to prevent them and the United States from becoming friends. 28.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Another great problem that cannot escape our vigilant attention is the trial' of strength in the Strait of Formosa which opposes with renewed acuity the People's Republic of China and the China of Taiwan, with its United States allies. We are old friends of the United States and we are also friends of the People's Republic of China, whose Government we have just recognized. The dispute between these two great peoples is the fruit of a series of tragic misunderstandings and it is our fervent hope that, in the interests of the whole world, the United States and China will, through mutual concessions, achieve a rapprochement, which would be welcomed with relief everywhere, and particularly in Asia. 27.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“At present, our Organization is obviously becoming a forum for propaganda where discourtesy prevails a little too often for our taste. 24. Secondly, let the great Powers give an example of the virtues which they preach to the small Powers: an example of calm, tolerance, good manners, flexibility, a willingness to make sacrifices and concessions. Never fear, the small Powers will follow unhesitatingly and eagerly on that happy path. 25. Nowadays, when the world is dominated by nations which occupy whole continents or sub-continents and have populations of several hundred millions, international good behaviour — and peace also — depend on these super-nations. They have only to wish and our present difficulties, which appear to be insurmountable, will disappear as though by enchantment. 26.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“But — and I mention this to make the story complete — our accusers would be outraged if anyone were to be the least suspicious of the experts, technicians and engineers of the other bloc, of whom they have a great many and who, of course, are always moving about. 22. These are the tragi-comic results of the cold war between the two blocs. We are getting further and further into a labyrinth where tolerance and the respect for truth are banished. What remedies can we suggest? 23. Firstly, as I have already said, we should all decide unanimously to give the United Nations wide powers, similar to those of a world parliament; but these should be powers of supervision and censure and would therefore be moral rather than military.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“In that way, a small country could avoid being devoured by a larger one before the United Nations was even informed of the case, pending the setting in motion, which naturally takes time, of the machinery provided for in the Assembly's rules of procedure. 21. Quite recently, the Press of certain neighbouring States has launched a lively campaign of vilification against us. It is true that technicians and engineers from Communist China have recently arrived in Cambodia to set up factories and prospect for minerals on our behalf. Some of these experts went to a frontier province to prospect for limestone. This was all that our neighbours needed in order to discover in them the vanguard of the Communist army, sent to establish a base for aggression against them.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Suspect elements in the Chinese and Viet-Namese colonies in Cambodia are kept under strict and constant police supervision-and we would have no hesitation in expelling any foreign agitator, whatever the colour of his politics, who tried to injure a neighbouring Government. 20. Without going so far as to recommend the installation of permanent international missions of inspection in certain countries where the situation is dangerous, we should be in favour of establishing international emergency observation teams under the authority and at the disposal of the Secretary-General, which would respond immediately to any appeal from a Member State and would draw up a preliminary report on the real state of affairs there, for the information of other Members of the United Nations and of the Security Council, if it was seized of the matter.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Despite this understanding and tolerance, however, we have been accused in certain quarters of constituting a base for Communist Infiltration and aggression threatening their security, for the sole reason that under our policy of genuine neutrality, we maintain the same good relations with the East as with the West. 19. I should like to point out to those Members who have perhaps already heard this accusation that, unfortunately for our accusers, Cambodia has no common frontier with any Communist State. If the Chinese or North Viet-Namese wanted to infiltrate into Cambodia, they could do so only through Thailand or South Viet- Nam, which are manifestly anti-communist, or through, Laos which, according to the present Prime Minister's own statement, is at once neutral and pro-Western.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Although we have not entered into any military alliance, even in the form of a defensive pact, and have not agreed to the establishment of foreign bases on our territory, we have fully respected the decision of neighbouring countries to practise an entirely different policy, and to adhere to joint defence organizations, to harbour foreign military units and to organize spectacular manoeuvres on our frontiers. We believe that this is part of their inalienable right to act as they see fit in what they regard as their own interests.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“In order to repay the Organization for the honour which it did us in admitting us to membership, we have agreed to enter into negotiations with those who have wronged us, despite the unhappy atmosphere created by propaganda campaigns and hostile demonstrations and even the closing of the frontier on the very eve of the arrival of our delegation in a neighbouring country. 18. We have also made every effort to practice genuine non-intervention in our relations with other Asian countries.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Since 1965, the International Supervisory Commission set up in Cambodia by the 1954 Geneva Agreements, which we are anxious to retain as a witness to the punctilious and faithful manner in which we are carrying out our undertakings, has been able to keep a constant check on the chief aspects of our national life, for example our elections and to see where the right lay when disputes have put us at odds with our neighbours. 17. We might perhaps be allowed to point out to the members of the Assembly that so far we have done our best to settle for ourselves such serious matters as repeated violations of our frontier or the prolonged occupation of one of our most ancient historic monuments in defiance of international treaties. We did not want to add to the difficulties of the United Nations by bringing these matters before it.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Such a course would put an end to the mutual accusations of the opposing blocs and to those discussions and resolutions which have not so far succeeded in freeing any people from the oppressors. 15. The time for narrow nationalism is over. Although we may not be ready yet for world government, we ought to accept willingly the intervention, even if it is only the moral intervention, of an Assembly with wider and more universally respected powers in national cases which might cause international difficulties. Without this, how shall we ever emerge from these difficulties? 16. We proclaim, here and now, that Cambodia accepts wholeheartedly and in advance international inspection and control in any affair in which it may be involved.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Either they will object on behalf of the principles of sovereignty and non-intervention; or they will feign obedience to the wishes of the United Nations and offer it the doubtful results of a prefabricated consultation, at the same time refusing to allow international observers to attend. We believe that such obstacles must be removed; we should like the United Nations to organize and supervise, in countries in which human rights are disregarded and domestic security threatened and which therefore constitute a danger to world peace, popular consultations which would allow the people to make their true opinion known free of all internal or external pressure.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“In this case, and when the problem at issue has, without any possible doubt, international implications, for example when it threatens to endanger peace in a specific region, we believe that the only logical solution is to organize a referendum in the country concerned; such a referendum would give a clear and indisputable indication of the popular will, which could not then be distorted or improperly exploited by any outside influence. 14. Some Governments, which can scarcely be said to enjoy majority support, will of course be somewhat unwilling to consult freely with their citizens.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“For its part, Cambodia has made provision, in its constitutional law of neutrality, for the possibility, in the case of foreign aggression, of an appeal to the United Nations or, in cases of extreme urgency, to the aid of a friendly Power. If such an eventuality should arise, which God forbid, we could not allow any bloc to call the friends which had answered our appeal aggressors against the Cambodian people. 12. Of course, in Cambodia, the decisions of the Government are directly controlled by the National People's Congress which meets ordinarily every six months and more often if the need arises. 13. But, it may be said, what is to be done when a Government summons its allies to its aid merely in order to impose its own tyranny upon the people?”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“This guarantees that it would be sufficiently clear-sighted. 10. The importance which we attach to the self- determination of. peoples also makes us wish that the various blocs would stop posing, as they are rather too prone to do, as the interpreters of the popular will of any particular country where matters are awry. These countries have their own Governments duly appointed by regularly elected parliaments and it is proper to leave to those Governments, as long as they are in power, the right they indubitably possess to call upon allied troops for assistance and to ask those troops to go or to stay, depending upon the turn of events. 11.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“In these last three years, I have made friendly visits to most of the countries in the Western bloc and in the Socialist bloc, and both points of view have been dinned into my ears. I have always been inclined to believe in the complete sincerity of both sides. Nevertheless, just as any man needs a mirror to see himself from behind, so do the great Powers sometimes need the neutral countries to point out to them the flaws in their own reasoning. 9. This may sound a somewhat presumptuous statement, On the contrary, we make it in all humility. Since we are not bound by any undertaking to any of the great Powers and since, we prefer to live poor and apart rather than sell our freedom to outside interests, our contribution to this work of reconciliation could only be completely disinterested.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“If the great Powers become at certain times no longer capable of judging a given situation dispassionately, because they have to some extent become the victims of their own propaganda; if through their own rigidity, they arrive at a complete impasse from which, for reasons of prestige they are unable to withdraw, why should they not then entrust the task of advising them to a commission consisting entirely of representatives of countries free from all suspicion of partiality or commitment, and let that commission suggest solutions which, while not damaging to their just interests, would have the merit of not clashing with justice, right or the conscience of mankind? 8.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Since listening to these debates between the great Powers and hearing them accuse each other of aggression, in the name of totally opposing moral systems, we have realized that the great Powers, encased in the armour of their own pride and bound hand and foot by their own ideologies, will never admit that they may themselves be at fault. 7. In our opinion, it is for the smaller nations to do their powerful friends the service of pointing out to them, frankly, in the interests of the entire human community, the mistakes which their great Power complexes may lead them to commit and thus bring about some reconcilement of the opposing arguments.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“We want to be able to support any proposal which we regard as just and reasonable, regardless of its sponsors' political complexion. We believe that the truth is not the prerogative of any particular system, but is to be found to some extent in all, and that the most elementary common sense requires us all to recognize this. Thus, recovering our humility, we might be better able to understand the other point of view and to agree to certain mutual concessions which would prevent discussions between Government and Government from becoming a dialogue of the deaf, ending sometimes by a blow on the table. 6.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“In our view, our woes have their origin in a failure to observe the spirit of the Charter. Our delegations should conduct their debates with objectivity and serenity, according to the rules of justice, morality and common sense, but for years now they have allowed themselves to be drawn into a storm of ideological and partisan passions. The division of the world not only into blocs but into rival blocs, each seeking partisans and requiring from them practically automatic voting support, has suppressed all free will and rendered impossible in advance any attempt at reconcilement when a grave crisis arises. This curious notion of solidarity which might well compel us to vote contrary to our convictions is quite unacceptable to us.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Even if our lack of realism in this matter does not throw the world into an immediate tragic conflict, we shall be unable to prevent the debate which was evaded from being resumed one day in this Assembly in an atmosphere of increased bitterness. It is not only the prestige of the Organization which is at stake today but the fate of tens and possibly hundreds of millions of human beings. 4. Cambodia is a small, neutral country, friend of all and ally of none, which has succeeded so far in keeping intact its freedom to judge for itself. Although in no way desirous of reading a lesson to countries larger than Cambodia, it would like to indicate the reasons why, in its opinion, international crises are multiplying and becoming increasingly difficult to solve. 5.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“1. The delegation of the Kingdom of Cambodia has pleasure in presenting its warmest greetings to the new President of the General Assembly, Mr. Charles Malik, whose election to this office is the culmination of a lifetime devoted to international amity, and to our devoted Secretary-General, Mr. Dag Hammarskjold, the indefatigable and eloquent interpreter of our Assembly's wishes in all parts of the world where peace is threatened. 2. Unfortunately, our present session is opening in an atmosphere of anxiety. The chief problems facing us have so far defied all attempts at conciliation. Neither in the Middle East nor in the Formosa Strait have we been able to break the deadlock. 3. We cannot hide the fact that many of us were deeply disappointed to see the crucial problem of the representation of China held up once again.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)