YouSaid · the spoken record

PADILLA. NERVO

lines on the record: 205
first: 1948-09-24
most recent: 1962-09-24
sittings or episodes: 6
sources: un-general-debate

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“They arise primarily from the selfish interests of States which have large fishing fleets accustomed to operating hundreds and even thousands of miles from their own shores, disregarding the rights of the riparian States, Naturally those interests come into conflict with the legitimate interests of States like Mexico, whose programme "A March to the Sea" — which merely indicates its decision to exploit the natural resources of the sea in the off-shore area for the nation's welfare — would have no meaning if we found the sea impoverished and emptied of its natural riches. 98. If, we are to bring about international harmony as defined in the Charter, our conduct must be adapted to the Charter's principles.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The right of innocent passage across the territorial sea is based on generally recognized and respected principles of international law, which have moreover been expressly reaffirmed in the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone adopted by the Geneva Conference. Nor is it true that the rule might be prejudicial to the legitimate interests of air navigation. For the past twenty-three years the breadth of Mexico’s territorial sea, for example, has been nine miles, under existing legislation, and I do not know of a single case where this has harmed or impeded either maritime or air traffic. 97. The real reasons for the opposition to a twelve-mile limit which, if all the factors involved are examined objectively, seems eminently reasonable, are to be found elsewhere.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“It was reintroduced by our delegation in the plenary meeting in a draft resolution sponsored jointly by Mexico and seven States from three different continents and won majority approval, although it failed to obtain the two thirds majority required under the rules of procedure. It was the argument put into practice, after the close of the Conference, by two more States, while a number of other countries and political entities stated their firm intention to take similar action at an early date. 96. The objection frequently raised by some of the opponents of this rule to the effect that it would jeopardize freedom of navigation is without foundation and in open contradiction with reality.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“In the first place, it has proved that the old concept of the three-mile limit has been generally abandoned and rejected and its claim to be a rule of international law no longer obtains in legal circles; secondly, what may be called a customary rule of international law concerning the width of the territorial sea is provided, as I said in 1956 at the 362nd meeting of the International Law Commission, by a "rule of variable' content" the maximum limit being twelve nautical miles, since that emerges from the legislation and practice of roughly two-thirds of the countries of the world. That was Mexico's argument at the Geneva Conference. It was embodied in a draft resolution sponsored by Mexico and India and was taken first of all from the texts voted upon in the First Committee of the Conference.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“There are three further items on our agenda on which I should also like to make some brief remarks, namely the question of territorial waters, the promotion of economic development and the right of self-determination. 95. With regard to the first, the Mexican Government has expressed regret that the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, held in Geneva last spring, was unable to reach agreement on the width of the territorial seas. The establishment of a reasonable limit, in accordance with the practices, claims and aspirations of the majority of countries, would undoubtedly have done much to facilitate friendly co-operation between nations. The Conference can, however, justly claim two constructive achievements in this special field.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“We believe the time has Come for the General Assembly to respond to this appeal and consider whether to recommend that the great Powers should resume their negotiations, which were interrupted by the Middle East crisis, with a view to reaching an agreement on the place, date and agenda for such a meeting at the highest level. It should not be forgotten that the Chiefs of State of every one of the Powers in question have recently spoken in favour of holding such a meeting, differing only on the conditions in which it should take place. Moreover, if that conference were to be held on the recommendation of the Assembly and the participants were required to submit a report on its result, it would then remain within the framework of the United Nations. 94.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The possibilities of international friction will obviously diminish, as a result of the physical removal of the military forces of both sides, and the limitations that may be imposed on their supply of armaments. 93. Disarmament and the other problems I have briefly reviewed and which are only a few of those which have been dividing the great Powers and constituting a serious threat to world peace, have prompted the intermittent but persistent cry heard of late for what is generally known as a "summit meeting" at which the Heads of State of the great Powers would try to sink their differences and save not only future but also present generations from the scourge of war.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“With regard to Europe, my delegation shares the view expressed by Eastern and Western statesmen, both in the United Nations and outside, that consideration should be given to the possibility of applying practical measures designed to reduce international tension. The suggestions made here since last year, and elaborated on in the present general debate by the Foreign Minister of Ireland [751st meeting], for securing what he called "a military and diplomatic drawing back in Middle Europe", as well as those put forward [697th meeting] by another of our distinguished colleagues, Mr. Rapacki, the Foreign Minister of Poland, within the framework of his plan, may perhaps serve as the basis for a detailed examination of the question.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Hammarskjold, as described in his report of 29 September 1958 [A/3934/ Rev. 1], since it appears that, thanks to his efforts, the policy of good neighbourliness advocated by the Charter will be safeguarded in the area by means of a series of practical measures freely agreed upon by the Governments concerned and will, at the same time, result in the complete withdrawal of the foreign troops which are still in Lebanon and Jordan. However, for a complete and permanent return to normal in that area, upon the withdrawal of those troops, the Powers will have to show by their conduct, in accordance with the appeal made by the General Assembly at its third emergency special session, that they intend to act in strict conformity with the principle of non-intervention in their dealings with the Middle Eastern countries. 92.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The Mexican Government, as shown by its delegation's active participation in that session, has been and continues to be deeply concerned that a just, equitable and mutually satisfactory solution should be found as soon as possible to the problems which for many years have beset the countries of the Middle East and which have caused so much suffering to the peoples of that area, Our interest, which is in keeping with Mexico's consistent policy of favouring the peaceful settlement of controversies and in support of the right of peoples to self-determination, is also based on its unswerving adherence to the principle of non-intervention, which we consider of fundamental importance in international relations. 91. My delegation is therefore doubly pleased with the task accomplished by Mr.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“In such an unfortunate event, we should therefore envisage, not an acrimonious debate serving only to reiterate mutual recriminations and rigid positions, which are only too well known, but a calm and objective approach towards a solution based on justice and law, but also taking into account the facts of the situation. One such solution, and perhaps not the least effective, might be to entrust the Secretary-General with a mission similar to the one he has just carried out in the Middle East with such success. 90. This should give a dear idea of our position on the question considered by the General Assembly at its third emergency special session.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“There is no denying that the conflict over the off-shore islands of China, the most important of which are Quemoy and Matsu, is the most vital issue at the present time. Up till now, the measures adopted and the stands taken outside the United Nations by some countries have not often been conducive to a favourable climate for negotiations. We nevertheless hope that the discussions now being held at Warsaw between the representatives of the United States and the People's Republic of China may result in a peaceful settlement of the dispute over the off-shore islands. If these hopes should be disappointed the Assembly could not, in our opinion, overlook this serious matter without failing in its responsibilities.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“It is obvious, however, that the arms race and the dire threat which it constitutes for mankind is not only the cause of a deterioration in the world situation but also largely the result of the constant frictions arising, particularly between the great Powers, out of regional conflicts which are aggravated by the rival interests of those Powers. 88. I therefore feel that while endeavouring to promote agreement on partial disarmament measures, we should constantly bear in mind at our annual sessions the need also to help to reduce international tension by adopting such other measures as seem appropriate to eliminate, or at least to reduce, the areas of conflict between the great Powers. I shall proceed briefly to discuss the three main areas in which this conflict is now apparent. 89.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The foregoing will fully explain why it is a matter of great satisfaction to us, as it is to the rest of mankind, that after the constructive Conference of Experts at Geneva the Powers producing nuclear weapons reached agreement on a date close at hand, 31 October, for the suspension of all nuclear tests and the opening of talks which we certainly hope, for the good of present and future generations, will lead to the final cessation of such tests. 87. As we have already said, the solution to the problem of disarmament will provide the key to lasting peace.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“This involves new and largely unknown hazards to present and future populations; these hazards, by their very nature, are beyond the control of the exposed persons, The Committee concludes that all steps designed to minimize irradiation of human populations will act to the benefit of human health. Such steps include the avoidance of unnecessary exposure resulting from medical, industrial and other procedures for peaceful uses on the one hand and the cessation of contamination of the environment by explosions of nuclear weapons on the other." Ibid. chap. VII. para. 54. 86.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“In examining the report of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation [A/3838], which sets forth the results of three years of study and which is, as the Secretary-General points out in the introduction to his annual report, "the most comprehensive and authoritative single contribution to knowledge in this field that has been made up to the present" [A/3844/Add.l. p. 2]. we have found our statements of last year confirmed. Thus, in its general conclusions, the Committee states that "even the smallest amounts of radiation are liable to cause deleterious genetic, and perhaps also somatic, effects" [A/3838. para. 55 (a)]. It also points out that: "Radioactive contamination of the environment resulting from explosions of nuclear weapons constitutes a growing increment to world-wide radiation levels.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“My delegation reiterated its concern about the situation in the following statement to the First Committee: "We know that radioactive fall-out caused by these explosions produces harmful biological and genetic effects. We also know that the greatest danger stems, not from direct exposure to radioactivity caused by the tests, but from indirect absorption, by means of a chain in which the last link is food, of substances which might have harmful genetic effects. " 85.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The same method might perhaps also be tried with regard to the other concrete measures specified in resolution 1148 (XII) which the General Assembly adopted at the twelfth session and which would seem likely to benefit by a similar approach by stages. 84. With regard to tests of nuclear weapons, I had occasion at the twelfth session [699th meeting] to recall the statement I made in 1957 in the International Law Commission, concerning the international responsibility of a State for the harmful results of such tests in that they are beyond human control. This does not refer, of course, to the magnitude of the explosions and the physical devastation they produce, but to the unpredictable effects of radiation on human and other living beings as well as on future generations.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“We share the view expressed by the Secretary- General in the introduction to his annual report [A/3844/Add.1] that the encouraging results obtained by the Conference of Experts to Study the Possibility of Detecting Violations of a Possible Agreement on the Suspension of Nuclear Tests, held in Geneva last summer, seemed to indicate a way of separating the political from the non-political elements so that a solution may be found at an early stage to the problems entailed in the former, which will undoubtedly increase the possibilities of arriving at a subsequent agreement on the latter. This is also evident from the interest in holding similar talks shortly concerning the security measures necessary to prevent surprise attacks.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“"Considering that an agreement on disarmament would make it possible to use substantial resources to raise the standard of living of all peoples, "Convinced that the adoption of concrete disarmament measures is both necessary and feasible, "Addresses a solemn appeal to the Powers which, because of their war potential, have a more direct responsibility in this field, to renew their negotiations and to redouble their efforts towards the early conclusion of mutually satisfactory agreements covering the various problems connected with disarmament." 83.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“for the establishment of a lasting peace, and which might be phrased in the following terms: "The General Assembly, "Conscious of the fact that the armaments race today represents the greatest threat to peace and security, "Convinced that disarmament, even on a partial scale, would alleviate international tension, thus freeing mankind from fear and anxiety, and would create a propitious climate for the solution of pending political problems.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The second suggestion I would reiterate, since unfortunately it could not be carried out last year owing to the international situation and to the trend of our discussions on disarmament, was to consider the possibility of the Assembly urging the great Towers to redouble their efforts to achieve positive results as soon as possible in the disarmament negotiations, addressing an appeal to them similar to the resolution unanimously approved on the initiative of Mexico in 1948 [resolution 190 (III)].”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Another advantage which will be obvious to anyone who is familiar with the real difficulties, often quite different from the apparent difficulties, which have been encountered in disarmament, is that the Commissioner could assist the representatives of the great Powers in their negotiations, maintaining constant contact with them and submitting privately for their consideration any proposals considered helpful in conciliating divergent views, and, in general, in smoothing the way towards agreement. 82.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“It may also be advisable to repeat that our suggestion is not dependent in any way on the composition and functions of the Disarmament Commission and that it has the advantage, in our view, that in the person of the Commissioner, the Assembly would not only be represented but could bring to the notice of the great Powers any views, suggestions or studies, which might, in the general interest, contribute greatly to a gradual solution of the problems of disarmament.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“"Convinced that an agreement on disarmament is necessary and possible, "Considering that there is an urgent need to intensify efforts and to seek further means of reconciling the divergent points of view, "Requests the Governments of France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and the United States to consider, when they deem it appropriate, the possibility and advisability of unanimously nominating a statesman of high international prestige to be appointed by the General Assembly to assist them in their negotiations and, for that purpose, to consult with them, submit to them for their private consideration whatever proposals he considers advisable and, in general, to promote the conclusion of agreements between them; "Requests the Secretary-General to provide the facilities required to give effect to the present resolution." 81.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Powers, because, as we said before; we feel that the unanimous recommendation of those Powers is essential and indispensable for the success of our initiative. The draft resolution would be as follows: "The General Assembly.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The first is that the Assembly should consider the feasibility and advisability of appointing a statesman of high international prestige, on the unanimous recommendation of the Powers I have just mentioned, to act as a United Nations Commissioner or Mediator for disarmament. I do not consider it necessary to go into the details of this idea, as the Mexican delegation had an opportunity to explain it at length, both in the statement I made on 3 October 1957 in the general debate [699th meeting] and in the statements made-by the Mexican representatives in the First Committee at its 884th and 891st meetings. Let me merely read the draft resolution which we were — and are still — prepared to submit to the Assembly if there is agreement on it among the great.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“If this idea was received favourably by other delegations, my delegation would be willing to submit it to the appropriate body, namely the First Committee, in the form of a draft resolution in which that Committee would recommend that the representatives of France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics should jointly consider, with the assistance of the Secretary-General, how to resume the negotiations on disarmament. 80. I should also like to, refer to two other suggestions which I made at the twelfth session from this very rostrum.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“As we all know, the efforts which were being made within the framework of the United Nations during the period between sessions of the General Assembly were completely broken off, because the specific machinery provided for the purpose has not been used this year. It would therefore seem that one question to which we should give priority is the exploration of methods likely to lead to the resumption of the interrupted negotiations within the framework of the United Nations. This obviously cannot be achieved by majority votes but only with the agreement of the great Powers; my delegation feels, however, that the Assembly might make a useful contribution by recommending that the representatives of those Powers should meet to consider the specific point to which I have just referred.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“That would indeed be a true policy of silence — of eloquent silence -which we should agree to apply forthwith. 78. Mexico is convinced that the problem of peace depends fundamentally on what progress can be made towards disarmament. In accordance with this unshakable conviction, we have spared no effort at the various sessions of the General Assembly to help to bring the great Powers, and particularly the "nuclear Powers", closer together. Convinced that the only thing which can get us out of the impasse in which we have unfortunately been for some time, is not oratory but valid practical suggestions, however modest they may appear at first sight, we now wish to submit to this Assembly a few concrete ideas, the fruits of our reflections on some outstanding aspects of the disarmament question. 79.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“This makes it impossible to appraise problems properly, and difficult to treat them realistically according to their true nature and real significance. Our means are unsuited to our ends and we are setting off on roads which lead us away from our goals. 76. It is urgently necessary to agree on a truce of silence which will permit a reappraisal of the international situation. A suspension of verbal outbursts, an armistice for reflection in which the din of mutual recrimination would be lulled, an interlude of kindness in the exchange of threats. The science of politics is no longer in its infancy; it is time for it to produce results befitting its maturity. 77. I humbly and respectfully suggest an armistice of silence, a lull in the din, in which it will be possible to talk quietly and to good purpose.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“Instead of continuing to judge others from our own point of view, let us strive to understand them, and draw from the characteristics which astonish or trouble us because we do not understand them, the essence common to us all, which is part and parcel of our human heritage. Let us use our intelligence and discern the universal features of humanity in the national image of every people. We may thus sow the seeds of peace in the most fertile soil, in the hearts and minds of men. 75. Every day, political and military declarations place bars, obstacles and limitations in the way of Governments which are involved in an unending battle of words. The Powers risk their prestige in each new skirmish and their freedom of action is becoming Increasingly restricted.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“No country is so free from blame that it can throw the first stone in the name of truth or set itself up as judge of the conduct of others. 74. The world is not divided into good peoples and bad peoples. It is divided only into a number of nations with different spiritual motivations, different historical backgrounds and differing philosophies. It is neither proper nor wise to think that a nation nurtured in the philosophy of Aristotle or Thomas Aquinas should react to political, economic and social events in exactly the same way as a nation whose philosophy stems from the individualism of Locke or from the oriental concept of becoming. For good or evil, the world is still made up of nations which differ spiritually.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“It is puerile to produce political statistics merely to show which State has most frequently acted in a manner contrary to the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations. Two wrongs do not make a right, nor two untruths a truth. 73. We believe in positive statements, not negative ones, and we are u 3 that there is not a single country which is unworthy or committed to evil. However, a policy of recrimination tends to create the belief that there are such countries and to encourage in a people continually exposed to arbitrary denunciations a feeling of rancour and inflexibility. We therefore think that recriminations must be met with silence; a qualified silence, that is, an avoidance of denials, charges and accusations.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“The path we are following, at their behest or against their will, is not one which leads to peace and there is a universal feeling that there is an urgent need to go in a different direction and adopt different methods. 72. We all recognize the existence of legitimate individual principles but we believe that the most complex problems can be solved without undermining such principles and without repeated accusations which world public opinion finds useless, monotonous and sterile. Attempting always to put the blame and all the responsibility on the opponent does nothing to help mankind. Similarly, there is no advantage to be gained from comparing each other's faults, errors and abuses.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“We therefore reaffirm the validity of the principle of non-intervention, which protects the right of self-determination. 69. We reaffirm our conviction that every country must decide for itself whether to maintain democratic institutions. 70. We reaffirm our conviction that prosperity, like peace, is indivisible. It is impossible to conceive of a harmonious world in which a few are wealthy, and many hungry. If our real purpose is peace, let us recognize that the individual’s interest and the general interest are now one and the same. 71. In the present dangerous international situation, the peoples of the world are watching the attitude of the Great Powers with fear and misgiving.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“We reaffirm our conviction that all international disputes can be settled by peaceful means and declare that the use of force is not only morally reprehensible but in practice ineffective as a means of solving the problems of coexistence of States. 67. We reaffirm our conviction that the right of peoples to the full enjoyment of civil and political liberties and the guarantee of a continuous improvement in the living standards of the great masses of the people are essential conditions of universal peace. 68. We reaffirm our conviction that every nation — the product of historical forces which it is not always easy to understand from the outside — is entirely free to choose the political and economic system which suits it best and to exercise full sovereignty in solving its internal problems.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“This combination of the reality we have lived through and our ambitious goal form the basis for what might be called our conviction, reaffirmed year after year in our loyalty to principles which we consider fundamental, principles which have been the age-long guides of the Mexican people and — I might venture to add — of all men of good will throughout the world. 64. We reaffirm our conviction that mankind deserves a world based on peace, freedom and justice. 65. We reaffirm our conviction that respect for the territorial integrity and political independence of all States is essential to security. 66.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“For thirteen years, the United Nations General Assembly has been the scene of dreams and disappointments, of acts of good faith and expressions of intransigence, of magnificent human achievement and small but decisive steps towards peace and harmony. 63. What makes us persevere in our tasks of discussion and negotiation? What have we achieved and what are we striving for? Although we have accomplished much, through our perseverance, we are determined to do much more. Speaking once again from this rostrum, I feel that our hopes are nourished by our experience.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“61. Mr. President, I should like to extend to you my heartiest congratulations on your election. By electing you, the Assembly has recognized your long and fruitful association with United Nations activities, your high qualifications, your experience and your ability. Your election is doubly satisfactory to me personally because of the circumstances of which you and the Assembly are aware relating to your candidacy last year. I should therefore like to extend to you my best wishes for success in your task. 62. Over the years every nation's voice has been heard from this great forum, every cultural value and all men's highest aspirations have been made known.”
1958-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 13 (1958)
“A few years ago I told the Assembly that, in the opinion of scientists and technical experts, atomic and hydrogen weapons had destroyed for ever the old idea of victors and vanquished, and that potential enemies were now inescapably bound by a common destiny, and must live or die together. Let me express the hope that the work of this Assembly will show the peoples of the world that their Governments have already chosen between these alternatives, and that they have resolved not only to live together, but to "live together in peace with one another as good neighbours", working side by side so that the weapons of destruction may speedily be changed into the tools of prosperity. 186. A few weeks ago the President of Mexico, speaking to the people of my country, said: "What needs to be done must be made possible". The world needs peace.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)
“Perhaps we should conclude that the surest way of reaching agreement would be to entrust the task of formulating the draft declarations not to the great Powers, but to the small and medium-sized States, which could once again exert their moderating and conciliatory influence. Such declarations would be of value, if adopted unanimously, because the reiteration of fundamental principles always tends to enhance their power and. influence. 184. As I have said before, prosperity as well as peace is indivisible; the two are so intimately linked that it is not too much to say that the one depends on the other. There can be no real peace without a minimum level of general prosperity, and it is humanly impossible to conceive of prosperity if there is no peace. 185.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)
“We consider that such declarations should be something that unites rather than divides us, something that helps the United Nations to discharge one of its main functions, namely the reconciling and rapprochement of divergent points of view. Hence, we do not consider desirable the procedure followed at some previous sessions of the Assembly, and which I greatly fear may be repeated at this session, whereby one or more States submit a draft declaration embodying principles to which no one can object, since they correspond in essence to the fundamental principles of the Charter, but put in such a way and in such a context that the proposed declaration appears to other States tendentious and unacceptable. These States in turn propose a new draft declaration that for similar reasons is found unacceptable by the authors of the first draft. 183.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)
“We already have, for example, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration of the Rights and Duties of States. I see no reason why we should not draw up a declaration of economic principles, such as that produced in 1945 in the inter-American sphere by the Chapultepec Conference when it adopted the Economic Charter of the Americas, and such as the Economic Declaration of Buenos Aires recently approved by another Inter-American Conference. If this idea finds acceptance as a constructive proposal, the Assembly might take action on it, either at this session or the next, and thus fill what seems to me to be a real need. 182. I should also like to take this opportunity of explaining briefly our view on declarations of principle in general, and especially declarations of principle of a juridico-political nature.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)
“In this connexion we should remember and abide by resolution 626 (VII), in which the General Assembly recommended that all Member States "refrain from acts, direct or indirect, designed to impede the exercise of the sovereignty of any State over its natural resources". 180. Before concluding my remarks on this point, I should like to mention an idea which I have been considering for some time, that is, the possible adoption by the General Assembly of a declaration of economic principles. 181. Our Organization has on various occasions drawn up instruments which in a sense carry into effect and express in greater detail provisions of the Charter, and which may be likened to the laws of a country in relation to its constitution.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)
“In addition to the three main tasks that I have outlined, and closely connected with them, is the need to encourage a technical assistance programme that can be integrated with national development programmes, and to support the efforts of under-developed countries to diversify their economies and reduce their dependence on the export of commodities. 179. In this connexion, it should not be forgotten that any international economic development programme must fully respect the economic and political independence of the countries receiving aid, thus avoiding the danger that the under-developed countries may be forced to accept, as the price of their progress, economic subordination, the weakening of the democratic basis of their system of government, or threats to their full sovereignty.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)
“It is most discouraging, for example, to compare vast sum of $85,000 million, which, according to reliable calculations, the world is spending annually on war material and the mobilization of troops, with the small amount of $400 million which is the sum total of all the loans made during the last fiscal year by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. If even a part of the tremendous economic force represented by the first of these figures could be devoted to the fight against poverty, sickness and ignorance, we should have embarked on the true road to peace and security. 178.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)
“In order to supplement national resources, particularly for the purpose of strengthening and developing a country’s economic infrastructure, it is often advisable and sometimes indispensable to be able to count on the help of international development agencies, particularly for long-term or medium-term loans. This is a third instance of the way in which international co-operation can be fruitful. May the Special United Nations Fund for Economic Development, which Mexico hopes will at last become a reality at this session of the Assembly, be able, among other things, to encourage the existing international financial organizations to increase the volume of their operations and to liberalize their credit policies, which so far, we must admit, leave much to be desired. 177.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)
“It should be remembered that, while the results of such price fluctuations are usually negligible in relation to the total revenues of industrialized countries, they can have a disastrous effect on the short-term and even on the long-term plans of the under-developed countries, which all depend to a considerable extent on their commodities as a means of obtaining the foreign currency they need to import the capital goods necessary for their economic development. 175. The possibility of accelerating the economic development of the under-developed countries by increasing their own resources will be greatly enhanced if we succeed in abolishing, or at least reducing considerably, the gap between the prices they receive for their commodities and the prices they have to pay for manufactured goods. 176.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)
“In this connexion, I should like to remind the Assembly that all Members of the United Nations have solemnly undertaken in the Charter to promote "higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development". 173. I believe that there are three main fields in which this undertaking can most fruitfully be carried out by the wealthier and more highly industrialized countries. 174. In the first place, measures should be adopted, and permanent machinery set up, to combat sudden and violent fluctuations in commodity prices, fluctuations that are sometimes aggravated by restrictive customs practices or the uncontrolled dumping of accumulated surpluses.”
1957-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 12 (1957)