YouSaid · the spoken record

Claude COREA

lines on the record: 169
first: 1958-09-24
most recent: 1960-09-24
sittings or episodes: 3
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

“Regarding apartheid, the Colombo Powers, of which Ceylon is one, expressed at Colombo in 1954, and later on at Bogor, Indonesia, their great concern over this situation. In 1955, the Bandung Conference of Asian-African nations deplored the policies and practices of racial segregation and reaffirmed the determination of the Asian-African peoples to eradicate every trace of racialism. The Government of Ceylon is, therefore, pledged to uphold this policy which is in keeping with the principles of the United Nations Charter. We regret, however, to note that there are certain delegations which still put forth the argument that the Assembly is not competent to deal with this question when, at every previous session, it has, by its resolutions, maintained that this was an item coming within the competence of the United Nations. 39.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“There are on the agenda of this Assembly several important problems to which I should like to refer, but as these are special problems which are likely to be closely examined in the First Committee, in the Special Political Committee and, indeed, in all the other committees, I shall refrain from discussing them here and reserve my comments until such time as they come up in those different committees. I refer particularly to the problems concerning South West Africa, Algeria and Cyprus and to the question of apartheid as practised in the Union of South Africa. The views of my delegation have, moreover, been expressed at previous meetings of the Assembly and are generally well known. 38.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“May I make a brief reference to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide which is a great achievement of the United Nations and which I am glad to say has been ratified by no fewer than fifty-eight nations, including Ceylon. It is a pleasure to refer to it as this year marks its tenth anniversary. The Convention safeguards human beings against the danger of being wiped out of existence, as has happened in the past. The adoption by the United Nations of this Convention has helped to increase the Organization's stature in the world because of its great moral significance. My delegation hopes that those who have still failed to ratify it will delay their ratification no longer. 37.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“It is our belief that this policy will help in the reduction of international tension and increase the area of peace. 35. We welcome the success of the Conference of Experts to Study the Possibility of Detecting Violations of a Possible Agreement on the Suspension of Nuclear Tests, which was recently held in Geneva, and note with satisfaction that the big Powers now are ready to negotiate about the suspension of these nuclear tests. We welcome also the proposal for a meeting of experts to discuss measures to prevent surprise attacks. It is our fervent wish that these negotiations will be a prelude to a comprehensive agreement on disarmament. 36.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“And if we succeed, large sums of money that we now waste in the manufacture of dreadful weapons of destruction could be usefully channelled in the economic development of countries, particularly the under-developed ones which are badly in need of capital and technical know-how. 34. We feel that in the present state of world tension uncommitted countries such as Ceylon and other smaller countries could play a vital part in bringing about better understanding between the two power blocs. This attitude of non-involvement in power bloc conflicts will not only enable us to judge issues that come up before this Assembly on their merits, but will also enable us to make positive suggestions, unhampered by any military bloc loyalties.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“There is a lot of truth in the saying that "the seeds of war are sown in the minds of men". One of the ways we can arrest this downward trend towards destruction is to abandon military blocs and to enter into treaties of non-aggression and non-interference in the internal affairs of each country. The principles of peaceful coexistence to which I have already referred, if faithfully followed by all Powers and particularly by the big Powers, will greatly facilitate the taking of a step forward in creating an atmosphere of confidence and trust. The creation of this atmosphere will help considerably in the solution of all other problems that confront us. It will help also in dealing with the problem of disarmament.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“May that spirit shine ever brightly as the lodestar that guides us to the haven of world peace. 33. We have stated on earlier occasions that one of the major causes of tension in the world is the existence of power blocs. Unfortunately, this state of affairs continues unabated, thereby causing mutual suspicion and fear. This state of mind increases international tension and in turn accelerates the race for armaments. Today, we are witnessing the spectacle of mighty Powers allied with many other countries and armed with nuclear and thermo-nuclear weapons, ready for any eventuality. The delegation of Ceylon feels that if this vicious circle of suspicion, fear and preparations for war is to be arrested then steps should be taken to remove mutual suspicion and fear and to build up faith and confidence between nations.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“We have watched with interest the customary skill and zeal with which the Secretary-General has pursued the mission entrusted to him by the General Assembly. Our appreciation and thanks are due him. His report [A/3934/Rev.1] has just been released and will no doubt be discussed shortly. Although I speak after its release, I would crave the indulgence of the President if I find it necessary to comment on the report later in the course of the general debate. 32. I must point out that the third emergency special session which made this result possible will go down in the history of our Organization as an example of the steadfast adherence of Member States to the practical and successful application of the principle of peaceful coexistence or good-neighbour relations in the settlement of disputes.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“It was only last month that we met in an emergency special session to discuss ways and means by which this Organization could settle the immediate problems of the Middle East, heightened by the landing of United States and United Kingdom troops in Lebanon and Jordan, respectively. It was indeed a happy sign that, in a spirit of compromise and understanding, a resolution jointly sponsored by all Arab States [resolution 1237 (ES-III)] was unanimously adopted by the General Assembly as a preliminary step towards a solution of these problems. Tension in that part of the world has been greatly reduced by the action taken by the United Nations on that occasion, and we are pleased that Member States directly concerned with this question have agreed to work together.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“They have agreed that such settlement must be achieved by means of peaceful negotiation. We are in entire agreement that force must be eschewed. There is only a narrow gulf that now separates the contending parties. We urge the great Powers to take steps to bridge this gulf by the use of restraint and goodwill and by their wish to exist together peacefully as good neighbours in this ever contracting world of today. It is needless to say that in this endeavour the great Powers and all countries concerned will have the fullest support of the smaller Powers represented in the Assembly. 31.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“In fact, to the Christian world at any rate, "good neighbourly relations" may indeed be a stronger expression. That expression, which implies love of neighbour, is the rock on which Christendom is built. The whole world is therefore one in its faith, hope and belief. What is needed always, and certainly is most imperative in times of crisis, is the translation of the same belief, expressed in different words, to the facts of life and the situations of conflict, that may arise from time to time. Surely, therefore, all men of goodwill must be agreed that it is necessary to see that practice and precept are in accord. 30. We have noted with satisfaction that countries immediately concerned have agreed generally that the use of force is not the way to settle disputes.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“29. My delegation fervently believes and is confident that such a settlement, acceptable to all, will soon be found. We cannot fail. We must not fail. Quite apart from the universal destruction that would follow in the wake of a major conflict, which we all must strain every nerve to prevent, there is the fact that all countries, great and small, want peace. The People's Republic of China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics adopt as their policy the doctrine of peaceful coexistence; that is also the policy adopted by the Powers that participated in the Bandung Conference. Clothed in different language, that is also the policy of the United States and of the United Kingdom and of all European and Latin American countries. The observance of good neighbourly relations is synonymous with peaceful coexistence.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“If the People's Republic of China were a Member of the United Nations, perhaps this problem would not have arisen in this form, and, even if it had, the solution would have been easier. The delegation of Ceylon, like other delegations, views with grave concern the situation in the Far East. It is our earnest hope that wisdom, restraint and good sense will prevail on the part of all concerned and that every effort will be made to resolve this problem by peaceful measures. We therefore welcome the negotiations that are now taking place in Warsaw between the Government of the United States and that of the People's Republic of China. Every Government has a great responsibility for maintaining peace and promoting international understanding. No effort should therefore be spared to bring about a just and reasonable settlement of this question.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“This is one of the reasons that motivated the delegation of Ceylon to support the representation of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. The admission of the People's Republic will not only uphold the principle of universality which an organization of this nature should scrupulously follow, but will also help in solving many an international problem and thereby preserve peace — the main purpose for which this Organization was created. 28. Today, a dangerous situation full of explosive possibilities prevails in the Far East. There is a dispute between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Nationalist Chinese in Formosa. Each side is supported by great Powers, and any false move in the Strait of Taiwan may trigger a major conflagration which would bring death and destruction to all parts of the world.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The path of peace and prosperity lies in improving and strengthening this Organization so that it can meet the demands of the times. After all, we are only thirteen years old, and thirteen years in the long history of mankind is but a short period. If in the difficult days of the post-war period we have so much success to our credit, we can look forward to the future with much confidence, provided we continue to remain faithful to the fundamental, principles enshrined in our Charter. 27. The delegation of Ceylon feels that one of the ways in which we can strengthen this Organization is to implement the principle of universality of membership. Whatever political, economic or social systems may prevail in a country, every sovereign State should have the right of representation in this Organization.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“It is against tills background that we have to view the important part which an organization like the United Nations could and should play in. bringing about better understanding among peoples of the world. From the day of its establishment thirteen years ago, this Organization has grown from strength to strength and contributed in no small measure to promoting the purposes and principles for which it was created. 26. In the political, economic, social and legal spheres, the United Nations and its specialized agencies have done a great deal for the betterment of mankind. No doubt an organization of this nature has its limitations, and there is still much room for improvement. But the contributions it has made in helping to resolve some national and international problems are indeed noteworthy.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“No longer can countries be isolated and peoples be kept apart. Communications have improved and the world has shrunk to so great an extent as to make any important development in one part of the world of considerable interest in every corner of the globe. The struggles of peoples for independence and self-government are now better known and elicit friendly responses from many quarters. Economic problems of under-developed countries affect even those regions which are industrially advanced and well developed. The world of today is therefore in many respects interdependent, and the problems of one country affect the rest of us. Militarily, weapons of destruction have been perfected by the ingenuity of man to such an extent that in future a major war would bring about the total annihilation of mankind.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“It is therefore our earnest hope that under the able and wise guidance of the President, this session of the General Assembly will be able to make some positive contribution to making good use of those opportunities and to the lessening of international tension and the creation of better understanding and goodwill between nations, so that the advances we have made may be used for the good of humanity. The United Nations stands as a symbol of the hopes and aspirations of man in his quest for a life of peace and plenty. The delegation of Ceylon has consistently felt and fervently believes that in a world troubled by various clashes of ideologies and interests an organization of this kind is necessary, indeed essential, for the maintenance of peace and understanding among nations.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“24. As one surveys the world scene, one sees momentous events of great importance succeed each other with almost kaleidoscopic rapidity — events which are bound up with human happiness or misery, with peace or war. We also see great scientific and technical advances. Man has extracted from nature her secrets and has harnessed prodigious power which can be used for constructive or destructive purposes. What matters now is how we use these great advances in science and technology, how we deal with changing events, ever mindful that it is the human factor that is important. Our responsibility is great and specially so as Members of this Assembly. 25.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)