YouSaid · the spoken record

U Myint Thein

THE RECORD WRITES THIS SPEAKER AS U MYINT THEIN

lines on the record: 29
first: 1951-09-24
most recent: 1953-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
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

“We have tried to set out in general terms our feelings on what we consider to be the most important problems which face the world today. With possibly one exception, namely, the aggression in my country, none of these problems can be solved in the course of this session. But we are confident that, given the will to co-operate, under the wise leadership of our President, substantial progress can be made towards their solution. For its part, the delegation of Burma pledges its best endeavours and fullest co-operation.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“It would avail us nothing if the world were to find itself rid of the present tensions at the end of, say, five years, only to find itself confronted with a new crisis with potentialities for evil as great as those of the current world situation. We know that the under-developed areas of the world cannot be developed in five years, but we do suggest that it is important to utilize these years to build up among the peoples of the under-developed areas the prospect of a better life, if not for -themselves, at least for their children; for life without hope of any kind can only result in the release of destructive forces which, once released, might easily make the present turbulent phase in the history of the world appear, by comparison, a spell of paradise. 136.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“If the United Nations is to maintain its prestige and authority in these two continents, it cannot afford to let the clear will of the majority be flouted on this issue by the government concerned. 134. Last year, my delegation drew attention to the widening gap between the living standards of the highly developed areas and those of the under-developed areas of the world. We are grateful to the Secretary- General for devoting a substantial part of his current annual report [A/2404] to this frightening aspect of the world’s development. This problem, we suggest, is serious enough to be considered as something apart from the other problems which plague the world at the present time. 135.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“To the great credit of the United Nations, it was decided last year [resolution 616 A (VII)] to investigate this problem. Particular credit must go to those Member States with predominantly white populations which supported such an investigation. Unfortunately, the government concerned has refused to co-operate with the United Nations, claiming that this is a matter which falls essentially within its domestic jurisdiction, despite the fact that its actions represent a flagrant violation of Article 55 of the Charter. 133. These actions are being watched with increasing resentment throughout' the whole of Asia and Africa, and they have in them the seeds of a dangerous racial conflict which may spread to other parts of the world.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“This audacity is condoned when those who make the assertion are themselves comparatively recent settlers in lands where their darker-skinned brethren have dwelt for centuries. The last fifty years have witnessed very great progress in the gradual elimination of this problem in most parts of the world, but we are saddened by the fact that it has required two world wars to bring this about. 131. We wish that we could speak of this problem as though it were a thing of the past, but unfortunately we cannot. We know all too well that it still exists in large areas of the world, and that in at least one country racial discrimination and segregation form basic features of the law of the land, a law which attempts to perpetuate the domination of the darker- skinned majority by a white minority. 132.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“But if there should be people who are yet unfit to rule themselves, it is about time that they were taken away from the not-too-gentle hands of colonial Powers and placed under United Nations trusteeship. 129. I turn now to a problem which is as old as the problem of colonial imperialism itself, and equally outmoded. This is the issue of racial discrimination, particularly racial discrimination based on colour. 130. Of all the assertions which man may make, the assertion that those belonging to one race or racial grouping are in some way superior to those of another race or racial groping, merely because they happen to have a skin of a different colour, is possibly the most audacious.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“If they resort to a rising as a last and desperate course, then the world is informed that the movement is communist-inspired. When they do not resort to such violence, but seek redress in this Assembly, then they are told that the matter is one of domestic jurisdiction. It would seem that, despite the high-sounding affirmations and the pious hopes expressed in the Charter, the Assembly itself may become the means of perpetuating colonial and imperial rule. 128. The representative of Guatemala has said [442th meeting] that the colonial epoch is over, and with great respect we endorse his view. The theory of the white man’s burden is an outworn myth.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“For us, direct contact and relationship with the comity of nations is a privilege only recently acquired, and if in the initial stages of such contact we find the relationship bewildering, we dread to think what the future has in store for us. 127. There are many other matters that we find bewildering, and one of them is the position of the peoples still under colonial rule. In the Charter of the United Nations we have affirmed our faith, if such affirmation is necessary, in fundamental human rights, in the equality of the rights of men and women, and of nations large and small. Despite this affirmation, there are still millions of peoples who groan and suffer under colonial and imperial rule. If they manifest in their desire to shed the shackles that deny them freedom, the reaction of the paramount Power is violent.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“Even if one did not quite know if the Kingdom of Laos was in fact threatened, there was no lack of volunteers willing to resort to extreme measures to put out the fire, for it was thought that this alleged fire was inspired by a people with a political ideology different from that of the majority of the Member States. But when the Assembly is faced with a situation such as the one that prevails in my country, where a Member State commits aggression upon another Member State, the tendency is to avoid hurting people’s feelings and merely to hope for the best. Delicacy of feeling comes into play, and a spade is not then called a spade but is termed something even less apt than an agricultural implement. 126.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“There seems to be a feeling that some solution by persuasion might emerge. We are not optimistic, but if our friends still think there is a chance of a solution, we only hope that they are right. We must state, however, that the only solution that would give us relief is the total withdrawal of those troops. The specious excuse that General Li Mi has no control over some of his men is not acceptable to us. 125. The complacency with which some representatives view the situation has alarmed us greatly, and such complacency is odd when compared with the excitement that was caused when certain developments occurred in the neighbouring Kingdom of Laos some months ago. One would have thought then that the sky was on fire.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“The people in Formosa who' were initially responsible for their entry into Burma and who still continue to help and maintain these troops, supplying them with money and arms, have done nothing beyond giving lip-service towards withdrawing these men. I have stated on a previous occasion that the presence of these troops and their wanton acts, ranging from the looting of rice to their identification with the local insurgents who are fighting the Burmese Government, constitute “aggression” by whatever standard the term is defined. And when such aggression is engineered by those who have been permitted to hold on to a seat in the United Nations, and when they get away with it, we begin to ask ourselves if we are living in the Wonderland of Alice. 124. I should like to impress upon representatives the seriousness of the situation.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“The representatives of the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia have referred [443th meeting] to a matter which is of more than topical interest to us. At the appropriate time and place I shall elaborate and describe in detail the position prevailing in Burma in regard to the continued presence of 12,000 unwanted people, whom the United Nations with its delicacy of feeling describes as “foreign” troops, even if we all know who they are. I would merely recall that by a unanimous decision of the General Assembly [resolution 707 (VII)] their presence was condemned; they were asked to leave the territory of Burma and governments were enjoined to help in effecting their withdrawal. 123. Despite such efforts, these people have evinced no desire to go, nor has a single one left Burma.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“We are confident that a conference will come into being; but when it does, we must expect that progress will not be as rapid as we all would like to see. This may call for a degree of patience as high as that displayed by the two sets of negotiators at Panmunjom, and we must all be prepared for it. 120. Consequently we must deplore any attempt arbitrarily to limit the duration of the conference in advance. The stakes are too high, not only for the Korean people, but for mankind in general, for any of us to indulge in that kind of luxury. 121. These are the thoughts which occur to us as we look into the future of Korea. My delegation would be the first to admit that there is nothing novel or original in them, but nevertheless we feel that no harm, and perhaps just a little good, may come out of our restating them before the Assembly. 122.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“But, after all that has occurred in Korea, the fusion of the two parts is bound to be a slow and difficult process, and would be even if Korean interests alone were involved, which unhappily is not-' the case. Consequently the world, and in particular the Korean people, must be patient. 119. We have seen in recent weeks the difficulties which stand in the way even of convening a conference to discuss the Korean issue. It is easy to be disheartened by this, but when we reflect that the armistice itself was a negotiated armistice, and that it took two years of patient negotiation to bring it about, it would perhaps be naive to expect that everything else would fall neatly into place once the armistice had been signed.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“If we have learned any lesson from the history of Korea over the last four years, it is that any attempt to unite Korea by force of arms is doomed to failure. At best it will result in a vast unified Korean graveyard, while the other possibilities are just to terrible to contemplate. Consequently we would regard any move by any of the parties to resume the conflict, or to provoke, the other side, as an unforgivable crime against mankind. 118. The Korean armistice is inevitably linked with the question of a political settlement. It goes without saying that we share the universal desire to see a unified and independent Korea come into being as soon as possible.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“Any survey of the events of the past year would obviously be incomplete without at least a passing reference to the historic events in Korea, and I make no apology for turning to this subject even though every speaker before me has also dealt with it. 116. The Korean armistice is an overdue answer to the prayers of a weary world longing for peace. It represents a turning point not only in the affairs of the Far East, but also in the affairs of the world. We rejoice at the termination of the bloodshed, and we have sufficient faith in human nature to express the belief that, even though a unified and independent Korea may still be some distance ahead of us, the fighting will not be resumed. 117.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“113. I take this opportunity to extend to the President the sincere felicitations of the Burmese people and of the Burmese delegation on the occasion of her election to the high office which she now adorns with such grace and dignity. Peace has always been associated with the gentler sex, and we think that Mrs. Pandit’s election to the Presidency of this august Assembly is a happy omen of the advent of peace, a peace that is real and a peace that is not uneasy. We fervently pray that her occupancy of the presidential chair will coincide with a definite change for the better in international relations, a change that is so desperately needed. 114. We also extend our good wishes to the new Secretary-General on his assumption of office. We wish him success in the discharge of his onerous duties. 115.”
1953-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 8 (1953)
“Economic progress unaccompanied by the enhancement of human welfare is self-defeating. 54. These, Mr. President, are the thoughts which come to the mind of the Burmese delegation as we embark on the work that lies ahead of us. We express them in the hope that they will be considered in the spirit in which they have been made. Our fond wish is that we shall be able to leave Paris with the feeling that our deliberations have carried us nearer to the cherished goal of the United Nations.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“So long, however, as the present political tension lasts, we must face the sorry fact that the United Nations will be able to do little more than scratch the surface. A good beginning has now been made, and it is our fervent hope that, with a reduction in world tension, it will be possible to divert for this purpose a substantial proportion of what is now being spent on defensive measures. 53. My delegation desire to make a general observation on the question of the economic development of underdeveloped countries. In our view, economic development should aim at developing the human rather than the material resources of a country. One of the main causes of the present trouble in Asia is that, in the past, material resources and not the people were developed, because economic progress was regarded as sufficient.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“I refer to the necessity of malting the world a happier place to live for the millions of its inhabitants who, as things stand, are going through life in exactly the same way as their forebears have done for generations. The most hopeful development of this century has been the realization in the more highly-developed countries that there can be no genuine peace until some substantial adjustment is made in the disequilibrium which exists in the living standards of the peoples of the world. This, in our view, is the biggest long-range problem which confronts the United Nations. We are happy to be able to say that the United Nations has shown a keen awareness of its existence and that earnest endeavours are being made to tackle this gigantic issue.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“While on this subject, may I be permitted to raise the question of racial prejudice and discrimination. We should be ungracious were we not to acknowledge the fact that no such problems seem to exist in France. We wish we could say the same for the world in general, but we are not without hope and we look forward to the day when the world will be one big brotherhood of men, where individuals will be judged on the basis of their personal merits, without reference to race or colour. 52. After this recital of controversial issues, I turn to an issue which involves no controversy but which is, nevertheless, of paramount importance.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“I have endeavoured to lay stress on the fact that the world is tense today because of the unfortunate differences in outlook of the leading Powers. It will be realized, however, that there are other causes as well. To my mind, one major cause is the continuing domination by certain Powers of those who have unfortunately become subjected to their authority. As the representatives of a nation which has only recently recovered its independence, it is understandable that the Burmese delegation should, have strong views on the question. Experience has shown that a timely recognition of the legitimate aspirations of a subject nation can give birth to a new and fruitful relationship between the governors and the governed. Failure to recognize such legitimate aspirations can but bring bitterness, hatred and chaos. 51.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“The Burmese delegation hope that everyone will answer this appeal, so that peaceful co-existence may be ensured. 49. After all, the contention that peaceful co-existence is impossible is belied by the events of our own lifetime. Even if we ignore the years of the last war, during which, it might be said, the necessity of facing a common danger compelled what are now known as the major blocs to embrace each other, there was still the decade before the outbreak of that war, when the contending nations of today did manage to live together in peace and harmony, despite their differences in outlook and ideology. If it has been possible for the former deadly enemies of the Second World War to become friends once more, is it too much to hope that former allies will also be able to do the same? 50.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“They therefore make a fervent appeal to the representatives of the major Powers, who can shape the destiny of the world, to endeavour to effect a change of heart which will pave the way for a spirit of compromise — which, again, is the basic ingredient of the remedy for misunderstanding and the means of steering the world away from the horrors of a conflagration. 48. I now come to our hopes. Despite the frustrating atmosphere, we still have the greatest faith in the United Nations. Believing as we do that everyone would like to avoid a conflict, we pray that our appeal will not be in vain. The Burmese delegation welcome and fully endorse the call of the representative of the United Kingdom for tolerance, patience and restraint in order to build a worthy world.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“But each side accuses the other of promoting a new war. Everyone yearns and shouts for peace, but it is apparent that no amount of shouting or the mere putting forth of formulae for peace will achieve the desired object, until and unless the spirit of compromise is fostered in this Assembly and we endeavour to eradicate the distrust, suspicion and intolerance which seem to pervade the United Nations today. 47. That, then, is our fear. The Burmese delegation, even if they represent a very small nation, are no less sincere in their desire for peace.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“In 1945 came the Allied advance and the consequent withdrawal of the occupying army, with the killing and harassment characteristic of a beaten army; there was also more bombing by Allied airmen of all the structures which still stood and which could have served as a shelter for the retreating army. We were eventually liberated — but at what a price and with what dreadful loss of life. The scars of war remain in Burma even today, so that we are unable to forget what we should like to forget. 46. Can one wonder, then, that the Burmese dread war? And, if the Third World War should come, would it not be the small nations — geographically situated, unfortunately, in the path of war — which would be the first to suffer? No one wants war, for even the fruits of victory are poisonous and uneatable.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“They cannot help but feel that there is so much distrust, so much suspicion, so much intolerance, that they ask themselves, now that unity is lacking in the United Nations is there any hope left for peace? It is indeed sad that six years after the cessation of hostilities the world situation remains tense with the prospect of a worsening and hope for a respite becoming dimmer. Simultaneously the prospects of yet another war continue to grow. God forbid that it should come. We have seen war. Our unfortunate country was fought over twice. In 1942, when the Japanese hordes came in, the retreating army followed the scorched earth policy. 45. Then came the dreadful years of occupation, with their nightmarish horrors and bombing and strafing by Allied airmen.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“It would be an appropriate gesture of the United Nations’ gratitude to Paris for its hospitality. 43. The Burmese delegation have listened carefully to the contributions made by the representatives of various countries in this debate. They are impressed at the flights of oratory, and they would like to accept the sincerity of their utterances, but they are saddened at the display of vehemence in the ventilation of their grievances. 44. The Burmese delegation are not only saddened but alarmed at the uncompromising stand taken by the leading Powers. Faced with the difficulty of deciding whether a particular move is made in earnest or merely for propaganda purposes, the Burmese delegation are bewildered.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)
“The debate has dragged on, and I shall not tax the patience of this august Assembly by making a long statement. I desire merely to express the hopes and fears of a small country. My delegation must, however, join their fellow representatives in according thanks to the people and the Government of France for extending to us their traditional hospitality and in enabling us to conduct our deliberations in this historic city. In return for Trance’s unstinted kindness to the United Nations how nice it would be for the representatives present at this Assembly to come to an accord on controversial issues and sow the seeds of peace at this session so that the sixth Assembly, despite its unpropitious beginning, may go down in history as the Assembly of Peace and for ever associate Paris with peace that has so far been elusive.”
1951-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 6 (1951)