YouSaid · the spoken record

Lawrence

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS LAWRENCE

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17
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1954-09-24
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1955-09-24
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2
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un-general-debate

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  1. “Let us hope that the spirit of conciliation and compromise, which seems now to be abroad, will be allowed to saturate the atmosphere not only of that disturbed area, where massacres and unequal battle are taking tremendous toll inhuman life and suffering, but of all other areas where similar inhumanity and repression are the order of the day, so that in due course peace may in deed and in truth reign over our troubled world 96. The delegation of Liberia, ever willing and anxious to promote the cause of peace and justice, will do all in its power to co-operate towards the realization of these objectives at the present session.”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  2. “To do so would be to act like the ostrich Which, when tired from the chase, shoves its head into a narrow hole and thinks that in so doing it is hiding, its enormous body. 95. Neither shot nor shell has been known in history to quell or silence the desire of men to be free. We should be more reluctant in calling names, such as “terrorists” and “rebels”, when we refer to people whose only crime is the yearning for freedom and liberty, who desire to have something to say about the government-of their native land, who nourish an honourable ambition for themselves and their children that they might enjoy the blessings of a good education, health and the better things of life. In our various lands, I dare say, many a national hero was at some time in their rugged histories branded a terrorist and a rebel.”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  3. “The delegation of Liberia sincerely hopes that, in the very favourable atmosphere which pervades the present session, a solution of the question will be found and thus bring the United Nations nearer to the character it was intended to possess. 94. There is one quality which we cannot successfully divorce from the term “peace”, and that is its universality. It follows, therefore, that although all may be at peace in the western hemisphere or in Europe, while in Africa and Asia men are giving their life’s blood for liberty and freedom, peace is still something that we must strive to attain. We cannot close our eyes or our ears to the violence, massacres, death and inhumanity raging in the northern parts of the African continent.”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  4. “Since 1950, no new Members have been admitted to the Organization, although 21 applicants have submitted requests to partake with us in the erection of a dynamic and universal structure dedicated to world peace. We are all well acquainted with the background of the situation which has caused this regrettable deadlock. What better sign could there be of a real and true relaxing of tension than that some compromise could be reached between the two divergent views, and an arrangement arrived at whereby at least a large majority of the applicants could be admitted, thus bringing a greater degree of universality to our Organization?”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  5. “Moved, doubtless, by the realization that an atomic war would, in all probability, be one in which the human race would destroy itself, the courageous plan to use the power of the atom for the uplift of man, rather than his self-destruction, was initiated in this Assembly [470th meeting] by President Eisenhower of the United States, for whom, in his present illness, the delegation of Liberia prays a speedy and complete recovery. 92. In August of this year the International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy met in Geneva, Almost every country in the world sent delegates and observers to this conference which we hope has opened a new era — an era of collaboration for the uplift and betterment of humanity, and the opening of broader vistas for better living standards and human happiness. 93.”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  6. “In July of this year, the Heads of Government of the four Powers met in Geneva to see what could be done towards, lessening the tension in which the world had been firmly affixed for nearly a decade, and to explore the possibilities for active co-operation among all States. So far, it would seem that some relaxation has been obtained, as is evidenced by the tone of the discussions here in this Assembly; and we can only hope that it will be extended to even broader fields of contact. 91.”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  7. “There, the representatives of peoples of different races, colours, religions and ideologies met and discussed their mutual problems, harmonized their varied points of differences and expressed their agreements in resolutions unanimously carried — resolutions which were sober and restrained, although they dealt with such exciting questions as colonialism, racialism, sovereignty and human rights. We must here record, before this Assembly, our appreciation of the wisdom and foresight of the sponsoring countries and their courageous leaders. Truly the historic Conference at Bandung will be recorded in history as one of the greatest political landmarks of the present century. 90.”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  8. “During the latter part of the past year, the Governments of Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia and Pakistan extended invitations to a number of African and Asian countries to meet and discuss certain problems peculiar to the peoples of the two continents, Liberia, with 28 other nations, responded to the invitation and met at Bandung in April 1955. 89. There, for the first time in recorded history, the representatives of over half the world’s population living in Africa and Asia met on a basis of equality to do what no one else is willing or able to do for them — to discuss and find means for their mutual uplift and betterment, and thus promote world peace.”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  9. “Perhaps this new atmosphere is due, in some measure, to the meeting of the Heads of Government of the four Powers in Geneva in July 1955, to the Asian-African Conference at Bandung, and to the International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy. 87. The purposes of these conferences were, among other things, to bring about a relaxation of tensions and to promote world peace and security. The measure of their success may, in our opinion, be assessed to a considerable extent by the moderation and restraint which characterize this year’s debate. This appears to us a good omen, and it is our hope that we will do everything to improve this atmosphere and open wider the doors of opportunity for calm and deliberate discussions of the more immediate and burning questions on our agenda. 88.”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  10. “84. The delegation of Liberia takes this occasion to congratulate Mr. Maza upon his unanimous election to preside over this session of the General Assembly of the United Nations — a fitting tribute to his long and tireless efforts, in this Organization, dedicated to world peace and human fellowship. 85. During the last ten years, since the founding of the United Nations, we have witnessed a change from the co-operative spirit at San Francisco to the hardening of positions, resulting in heightened tension in the relationship between nations, which ultimately assumed the ugly proportions of what has been known as the “cold war”. 86. As we commence this session of the Assembly, however, we are happy to note what appears to be a change of climate — a relaxing of tension.”

    1955-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 10 (1955)

  11. “We are dedicated to the principle of the self-determination of peoples: that there can be no substitute for self-government, however altruistic may be the intentions of the governing Power. Today, we too are engaged in a great struggle testing whether a world half slave and half free can long endure! 10. The delegation of Liberia is grateful for this opportunity to record its admiration for Mrs. Pandit who presided over the last session of the General Assembly in a manner which lent honour to her country and won the love and esteem of all who were privileged to work with her. 11. To the President, the delegation of Liberia brings its warmest compliments and wishes for every success in his tenure of office.”

    1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)

  12. “Indeed, I dare say that in the hearts and in the history of the peoples of every nation represented in this Organization are enshrined their national heroes who, at some time in the near or distant past, symbolized for them liberty and freedom. With this in mind, we who are enamoured of the principles of democracy ought to be most careful in branding as terrorists and savages men who love their country and their ancestral firesides, who love freedom and liberty for themselves and their posterity, men who only want to be left alone to secure and work out their own destiny. 9. We are concerned with the problem posed by these teeming millions of subject peoples and their steady emergence toward self-government and independence.”

    1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)

  13. “While it is true that negotiations have brought forth a cease-fire in Indo-China and Korea, thereby considerably easing world tension, we do not know that it can be truthfully said that the world is at peace, since millions of subject peoples in the under-developed continents are still being haunted and harassed, driven from their ancestral hearths, forcibly deprived of their lands and worldly goods, their women left homeless and unprotected and their children fatherless and without instruction or hope for the future. 8. Today the spirit of nationalism surges in every human breast, and every man who does not enjoy this privilege cherishes the hope and the ambition to manage his own affairs. Which one of us will rise and say that this is not an honourable ambition?”

    1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)

  14. “The delegation of Liberia therefore welcomes wholeheartedly the proposal for the establishment of an atomic pool, dedicated to the task of exploring the possibilities for developing the uses of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. We regard this proposal as a practical approach to a problem, the solution of which will be a test of international morality, which ought necessarily to be exercised in an atmosphere of sobriety, mutual confidence and good will. The delegation of Liberia will support any proposal before this Assembly which seeks to realize this ideal. 7. The cessation of armed conflict in Korea and Indo-China has been warmly acclaimed by numerous speakers, who have voiced the view that for the first time in many years all is at peace.”

    1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)

  15. “In the great struggle between the two ways of life, or in any struggle in which the opposing forces may use the latest scientific methods, no nation great or small will go unscathed, and all existence upon our planet may quite possibly be exterminated. Hence, although materially we can do but little, yet, like watchmen on the wall, we can be keen and alert to approaching danger and sound the tocsin whenever there looms a threat to international peace and security. 5. We owe it to ourselves and to our posterity to join in the effort to meet the difficulties and dangers which must be overcome if international peace and security, to which this Organization is solemnly dedicated, are to be realized. 6.”

    1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)

  16. “As one of the smaller countries without the means or resources to practise modern warfare, we have given serious thought to whether any useful purpose could be served by taking part in discussions of subjects to which we could contribute so little, since whatever we might say might be regarded as but so many words. Despite the all-embracing declarations and charters enunciated in recent years, the rule that “might makes right” is still not without efficacy. Little, if any, heed is paid to mere words. Nevertheless, we are persuaded that smaller nations can and should take a part, even if only to express their points of view since, indeed, their very existence is involved. 4.”

    1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)

  17. “The delegation of Liberia avails itself of its privilege under the custom which allows delegations, at the beginning of each session of the General Assembly, to express their points of view in what has come to be known as the general debate. 2. In the main, the subjects which seem to have exercised the minds of most of the preceding delegations have been the atomic and hydrogen age in which we find ourselves almost rudely thrust, and the problem of whether the two ways of life confronting each other in the world today can subsist side by side in tranquillity, or whether their incompatibility is so great as to render their peaceful coexistence impossible. 3.”

    1954-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 9 (1954)