YouSaid · the spoken record

WACHUKU

lines on the record: 257
first: 1961-09-24
most recent: 1964-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“But suppose a situation arises in which all the great Powers would team up, particularly those who are financially better off because they have had an earlier start in the economic race, and suppose they were not going to fulfill their financial obligations, that they held us for ransom and that the price was that we should not be able to say what we wanted to say even though we knew it to be the truth. Well, that would mean the end of the United Nations. Consequently, it becomes a very serious problem, one of primary concern for all Members of the United Nations, to think how to finance the Organization itself. We have the contributions which are made Member States, and then there are the bonds, which may be issued and which have to be paid for. 109. May I suggest another avenue that may be explored?”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“The question now arises: what are we doing about financing the United Nations so that no Power, however powerful it may be, can cripple the Organization by its refusal to contribute its share or to contribute what it has promised to pay? I am saying this because we have been very lucky that some of the great Powers, like the small Powers, still believe in the United Nations, and have gone out of their way to fulfill their financial obligations.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“Now the numerical strength of this Organization has made it possible for us to be able to sidetrack the veto is most matters, except in those that are strictly within the competence of the great Powers, through the Security Council. So we have been able to achieve quite a lot. 108. The other means of control of this Organization is financial, and we have noticed how some Powers have tried to cripple the Organization by refusing to meet their obligations under the Charter. As a result of this, the Secretary-General was compelled to introduce a new system of financing, that is, issuing bonds. After all, a bond is a loan; you lend the money and later on you have to pay it back.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“So I make this suggestion with the hope that the Powers that have, been playing hide and seek in. Berlin may have a second look at the problem in question, and I sincerely hope that the German authorities on both sides will help the world to help them, if need be, to bring this subject within the competence of the United Nations so that all aspects of the problem may be, discussed dispassionately, fearlessly, firmly and without any attempt to please or to favour anyone. 107. As I have said, we have confidence that the United Nations can achieve great things if it has wholehearted support. At one time the Organization was controlled by the big Powers because of their right of veto.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“I have thrown out this thought because, after all, Berlin is in the world; it is not yet on the moon and whatever happens there will affect us. We in Africa would like to be left in peace and not in, pieces. We should be allowed to have some time to develop our continent. 105. The representative of Upper Volta talked about the curious and strange object that fell on the territory of that country. These days jets are moving at a terrific rate and they are trying to perfect planes that will travel at a speed of 1,200 miles an hour, piloted by human beings. Somebody has now traveled at the rate of 17,500 miles an hour and he felt quite comfortable up there. I am not so sure that we are safe at all at any point in the world or at any point of the compass. 106.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“This is most interesting because we have been told from this rostrum about coexistence. We have the Eastern bloc and the Western bloc. The nearest example of coexistence is the question of Germany; the two ideologies are facing each other. Would it not be a nice thing to work-out coexistence within that area? If we succeed in seeing that the two systems can work in harmony, then we may have found a solution to our problem on the question of co-existence, and that may help us to test the sincerity of all those who are preaching coexistence, whether they believe in it or not. I am saying this because the ideological war that is going on may one day precipitate a third world war before we realize what is happening.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“The other section was occupied by the Eastern Powers and it has established another system of government which they also tell us is democratic and socialistic. The fact remains that there is a government in that area. But there is this tangle; it appears that the capital of that part of Germany is in Berlin. May I ask: would it not be possible to persuade that section of Germany to transfer its own capital to one of the cities and leave Berlin a free city under the control of the United Nations so that when tempers cool down and if the German people wish it, the two sections may federate into one federal State or a number of federal States if you like, with Berlin as the federal capital? You have a federal capital in the United States; we have, a federal capital in my country. 104.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“Will the Assembly keep, quiet and allow a third world war to start from that same area which will engulf our world and destroy everything we have hoped for? 103. I said here from this rostrum that there was a suggestion made some time ago that Berlin should be handed over to the United Nations to be occupied by the United Nations so that the warring camps would be kept out of that danger zone. This suggestion may be unpopular with some people. We find that in West Germany the three Western Powers that have occupied the area have assisted that part of Germany to develop according to their own ideas of democratic and free institutions, and that section has established its own capital at Bonn.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“They want us to wake up one morning to find that they have started a third world war over our heads. I want to sound a note of warning. The time has come when the Assembly should try to find out what is happening in Berlin. We hear and see in pictures that a wall has been built; and people are escaping, people are shot. One plane buzzes another plane. One of these days an atom bomb may be dropped somewhere and, before we realize what has happened, there will be a third world war — a conflagration which will engulf everybody. Why do the big Powers want to keep Berlin out of this precinct? Why do they not want to bring it in? What is going on? In Europe we have had two world wars originating from that area.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“But human organizations and human enterprises cannot be predicted so completely that one can be sure of what is going to happen at every stage of development; so, however, imperfect it may be, I think that We have to show some, appreciation of the effort of the United Nations to contain that situation. 102. I should like now to touch on a very explosive and inflammable topic which has been deliberately kept out of this Organization. It is the question of Berlin. For some reason best known to the great Powers, they have carefully and skilfully taken the Berlin question out of the Assembly. They do not want to bring it within the competence of the United Nations. Either they are afraid of the truth, or they do not want anybody to look into the problem and examine it critically.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“Laos has a government, and nobody is lobbying anybody else to decide one way or the other with regard to Laos; Laos has settled down as a Member of the United Nations, peacefully contributing its own quota to our deliberations here. 101. An effort has been made also in West New Guinea. It is imperfect, but the fact is that situation that might have meant calling, on the United Nations for an emergency force, for funds and for all that goes therewith, has been contained, and perhaps within five years we may see a new situation working out to the satisfaction of all.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“So, reading the Charter and watching the development of the United Nations, my delegation, the Government of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria still have very great faith in the Organization, and I sincerely hope that all Member States, in spite of the difficulties, trials and tribulations of the United Nations, will do everything possible to prevent anybody from weakening it and will endeavour, rather, to strengthen it. In that connexion we have to show our appreciation for the effort that is being made to settle disputes under the aegis of the United Nations. At the last session and at the session which preceded it we heard so much about Laos and Korea and New Guinea. Today the question of Labs has been settled.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“And, because of its heterogeneous composition, when it forms an amalgam then, just as in the case of any other amalgam, it will be found to be quite different from what those who created it thought it would be. Already we find, as the result of this, the realization that the United Nations is getting out of hand and out of the control of the big Powers. All of us have been reading in the newspapers, in books and so on, that there have been very serious complaints that the United Nations has been bastardized. They say that it is no longer what it was meant to be. If bastardization means that the collective wisdom of man has begun to have a forum in which it can play on the minds of men, like it and my delegation likes it. As for those who do not like it, I will only tell them that they have missed the boat, 100.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“Coming to the United Nations, I think that at this seventeenth session we should all reflect on the past, the present and the future of this Organization. To my delegation the United Nations is a unique Organization. It is the only Organization of its kind in the world. Those who created it created it for a purpose, and I am sure that the big Powers expected that they would control it and direct it as they wished. But like human beings, who are the most unpredictable of all creatures in. the world, this Organization does not seem to be working strictly according to plan. It is growing like a human being and given the diversity that it naturally has, it will draw inspiration from diverse sources.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“If we succeed in bringing that to pass I think that we shall be qualifying under the provisions of the Charter in that we shall have shown our capacity to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, because if all the African States can come together and solve their problems on their own continent with mutual respect and understanding, the United Nations will not have an area there to have debates about each time, And so the Organization of African and Malagasy States which met in Monrovia and later on in Lagos, sooner or later will become a factor to reckon with on the African Continent for the maintenance of peace and security and the creation of human understanding in that very ancient continent. 99.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“Indeed, as the result of their agreement and their decisions on matters, we see now that very soon — a speaker from this rostrum has hinted this, and 1 believe it is possible — all the independent African States may find that they have an organization which will cater to their common interests in mutual respect for one another.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“And the African countries would be playing a very great role in the Assembly if they pursued the course of their new independence by forgetting power politics. 97. I do not say that we should not take notice of power politics. We should take notice of power politics, but keeping it aside and concentrating on service politics — service to our populations, our peoples and our continent and the development of our continent, so that we can become a show-piece to the world if necessary. I think that in this field we can contribute something. 98. I have devoted attention to this because since we came into existence two years ago it has been possible for at least twenty-one of the then twenty-eight African States to come together, to reason together and to agree on fundamental principles, oh things that are common to them.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“I am not lodging any complaints with this Organization, because we are capable of taking care of our own system, I am only saying that there is no need to come to the rostrum and preach wonderful ideologies or hifalutin idealistic rhetoric, only to go home and do something different. The time has come, now that the small Powers are in a majority in the Assembly, when we should begin to cultivate the moral aspect of human society and human life and living. The small Powers are small when it comes to material power, and so on, but I think they are powerful when it comes to making man’s more lasting contributions in this world and bringing them to the surface. And, whenever we see those things that make for disruption, things that create problems unnecessarily, we must not hesitate to point them out firmly and truthfully.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“I say this because, even within these two years, we have discovered that it is possible for countries that are Members of this Organization to be instruments of subverting fellow Members of the United Nations. Some of them will encourage young and irresponsible nationals, promising them certain favours, training them in practices that under normal circumstances they would not find their way to do, with the primary purpose of subverting States that are supposed to be members of a world community to which all of them belong. And what is the objective? Why should one Member of this Organization plan to disrupt the institutions of another Member? 96.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“I have emphasized this point because under the Charter we have assumed certain obligations, and, if every Member of this Organization were to observe the Charter not only in words but in deeds, I think that many of our problems would be solved peacefully and amicably. I have tried to say that it is because this is what we have been able to do in the two years of our existence, and, if we are allowed to continue to pursue our policy as we want to pursue it on our continent, I think that when we are five years old Africa will be a better place than we found it when we became independent. We sincerely hope that people will let us carry on our business as we want to do.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“Consequently, we have made it clear in our African policy that any African State, big or small, rich or poor — it does not matter whether the population is only twenty, thirty, forty, two hundred, three thousand, so long as such a country, exists — is equal to any other African country. Nigeria will not tolerate any black imperialism on the African Continent. We have gone through domination by others. We cannot tolerate and we will riot, support any attempt by any African country — it does not matter how powerful it, is — to bully any other African country. Consequently, for the last few years Nigeria has been in the forefront, in collaboration with many other African countries of fashioning and realizing in fact what hast been so much spoken of in words: African unity. 95.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“Consequently, while Nigeria reserves the right to take its own decision, to fashion the course of its own destiny, it also concedes to others the right to take decisions in the light of their own understanding, knowledge and appreciation of all the circumstances that lead to effective, constructive and realistic decisions. 94. We in Nigeria have tried, in conformity with the policy enunciated by the Government and people of Nigeria, to see that the greatness of Nigeria will depend on its greatness on the Continent of Africa. And its greatness of the Continent of Africa will depend on its relations with its own sister African countries.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“But Nigeria, as an, African country, cannot, in the circumstances of its own existence, overnight change itself into a European country. Nigeria is not a European Country, and therefore the European Economic Community cannot be relevant to Nigeria in the sense of her tying herself to it. But surely Nigeria can negotiate with that Community, deal with it as an independent State, in a bilateral sense and in a friendly manner. We do not think that what is good for us is good for everybody, and therefore we have a sympathetic understanding with regard to some of our sister countries that had institutions closely linked to other institutions: they must have time to adjust themselves to the changing environment, and it would be unfair for anybody to bulldoze anyone else into altering an institution in such a manner that it would produce chaos.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“We cannot do that with empty minds. Man is not purely a material being. 92. Most of the States that have existed, that have risen and fallen, have been warfare States. Their whole future has been built on war, on conquest, on domination of others. Nigeria has no intention of going on war escapades to dominate anybody. Nigeria rather expects that on the African continent, by peaceful and orderly development and co-operation with its neighbours, big and small, rich and poor, we shall be able to create a new Africa, a new society that Africans can be proud of. 93. I say this because we have listened to people telling us about the European Economic Community and about the great things it holds for us. I have no doubt that that Community has some great things for us.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“We shall not rest until the humiliation of people of African descent throughout the world has been eradicated from the face of the earth. 91. Consequently, our six-year development programme is geared to creating a welfare State, and not a warfare State - one which will be of service to the people of Nigeria, to Africa and, in our humble way to the world community to which we belong. Anyone who is acquainted with our development programme will see that we lay great emphasis upon the development of agriculture — the wherewithal of existence — and of our educational institutions, because, with knowledge and trained personnel and a thorough understanding of our material and mental and moral environment, it will be possible for Nigeria to play the role which history and circumstances have called upon it to play on the African Continent.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“is possible to find solutions to them by adopting human means, by discussing with others and by persuasion. We do not believe in achieving our objective by force. This is shown by the fact that immediately after it had gained its independence and consolidated its political position within its own territory, Nigeria directed its attention to achieving economic independence. Thus, Nigeria took on the responsibilities of planning. how best to make its independence a worth-while thing for its nationals. As I have already said from this rostrum on behalf of the Government of Nigeria, Nigerian independence is a means to an end and not an end in itself. We shall not rest until every square inch of African territory has been liberated from imperial forces.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“We have done everything within our power to be worthy of the obligations that we undertook under the Charter and to be worthy of the principles by which we acceded to independence. 89. Nigeria believes in the United Nations Development Decade. As I said from this rostrum on another occasion, we are, a people in a hurry. We must scale the centuries, Africa wishes to achieve in ten years what others who had more time at their disposal achieved in 100 years. We cannot afford to waste time. The. advances in technology and science cannot wait for us. We must move with great rapidity in order to catch up with the world. 90. We strongly believe that most, problems are human problems. Since we are human beings, we create our problems, our environments, and, the circumstances that give rise to the problems. Since, these are human problems, it.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“My Prime Minister made it clear when he spoke; here — and I have done so myself on many occasions — that our policy is one of non-alignment. When I look back at these, two years, I think I may say that we have demonstrated in no uncertain terms that to us non-alignment is not just a word but a fact. Many times Nigeria has made definite statements and; taken definite stands on the basis of decisions arrived at in the light of its own knowledge and experience and of the truth as it sees the truth — and not merely because it has wished to please someone. As a country we have religiously tried to relate our actions to the United Nations to which we belong, and to the continent of Africa, where we are situated.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“I also wish to express the satisfaction of the Government and people of Nigeria and of my delegation at the fact that Uganda has now become another Independent nation of Africa and very soon will be joining us in the Assembly, adding more feathers to Africa's cap — to use an African expression, Uganda will become the one hundred and tenth Member of the United Nations. Nigeria is very gratified at that fact. When we became the ninety-ninth Member we were the baby of the family, but in the space of two years we have acquired younger brothers and can now pride ourselves on being more or less grown up; perhaps we are now in a position to talk with a grown-up voice. 88. On 1 October — that is, about two weeks ago — my country celebrated the second anniversary of its independence.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“I should like to say how happy we in Nigeria are when we remember that during the last session we participated, in the final acts of liberation of Rwanda and Burundi. We are happy that at this session Rwanda, Burundi, Jamaica, the State of Trinidad and Tobago; and Algeria have become full Members of the United Nations. This is important to us because three of the new States are African States and two — Jamaica and the State of Trinidad and Tobago — are States in which Africans and peoples of African descent all over the world are interested. On behalf of the Government, delegation and people of Nigeria I congratulate those States on achieving their independence and becoming Members of the United Nations. We are confident that their small but sensible voices will help to strengthen this Organization in the interests of humanity. 87.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“84. I should like, through you, Mr. Vice-President, to extend my delegation's congratulations to. the President on his election to a post from which he will guide the deliberations of the present session of this great Assembly. I should also like to convey to his predecessor, Mr. Mongi Slim, the Minister for foreign Affairs of Tunisia, our appreciation for the successful way in which he discharged his duties during the last session. 85. I should like to take this opportunity too to extend my delegation's. congratulations to all the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly and to the Chairmen of the various Committees. We hope that during this session they will do their best to strengthen the United Nations by piloting the Assembly's activities to a very successful conclusion. 86.”
1962-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 17 (1962)
“And so, by the intervention of the smaller States through the Organization, we may bring sanity in the midst of insanity and save humanity from total destruction. 76. With these words I close my statement, and I thank the President for granting me the opportunity to address the Assembly.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“They are fighting a cold war; let them feel the coldness of the attitude of the smaller Powers; and let us withdraw to the warmer environments within our own circle, and let us think our own thoughts, and let us see whether we cannot formulate some ideas that will make them amenable to reason. 75. Those who are called the "great Powers" do not have all the greatness in them at all. They are great in some aspects, but they are very small in some others. As regards those aspects in which they are very small, you may find greatness in 'the smaller Powers—greatness in those moral qualities that the great Powers seem to overlook. And the collective wisdom of the smaller Powers may serve as a balance to the collective power, in the material sphere, of the great Powers.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“I have tried to explain our foreign policy and our attitude to matters pertaining to the United Nations and the attitude we adopt to the Organization. I have tried to think aloud in matters of world politics as a member of the world community, and I have tried to pose some questions which I should like to have answered for me. I have made certain suggestions to the smaller Powers, to see whether the time has not come when they should get together, in spite of the big Powers, to make their positions and their views known and their voices heard. 74. I think the time has come when we have to abandon the great Powers. Not totally. We should give them some distance and let them feel that they are now gradually being confined in a cold chamber.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“How do you expect us to follow such leadership? 72. If great leaders no longer have the capacity to lead, should the world Organization not seek out from its own midst a new leadership based on morality, objectivity and recognition of those finer elements that are found in man and human society, those things which make man greater than the large animals that are roaming the world and which man has been able to conquer and control and utilize for his own ad. vantage? Is it not extraordinary that man, who has been able to subjugate the powers and the various elements in the world to his own purpose, is unable to control his lowest basic motives and channel them to more constructive ends? 73. On behalf of my delegation, I have tried to explain our attitude to the African question as it affects us, as we are involved in it.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“We have discussed this subject over and over again, and there seems to be no end to it. Can there be general and complete disarmament when there is no will on the part of the great Powers to have peace? This is a matter which the smaller Powers have to take into consideration. My delegation feels that the time has come when the great Powers should not be allowed to bulldoze us into a situation which will result in our destruction due to negligence. , 71. I am losing confidence in the great Powers. They are climbing from the pedestal of greatness to the pedestal of insanity. I think that, the sooner they are told this, the better. We expect leadership from them; they give us destruction. We expect wisdom from them; they give us lack of knowledge. We expect objectivity from them; they present us with blurred vision.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“I pose the question only so that, when we withdraw the troops and the police from the Congo, each Member State of the United Nations may contribute troops and police for occupying Berlin and maintaining the peace of Berlin in the interests of mankind, preferably, none of the big Powers should have any say there, and those who control the area should be drawn from the smaller Powers. Is that possible, in order to save mankind from destruction because of Berlin? 69. This is a question which I should like to put, and I should like to ask Members of the Assembly to think about, it. We are young States, and we do not want to be involved in power politics. We can only explain the way our minds are working in the light of the facts as they appear to us. 70. We have been told that the most important thing is general and complete disarmament.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Is it possible to persuade the eastern section to found a new capital for its own area, just; as Bonn is the capital for the exercise of political power by the west, and to surrender Berlin to the United Nations, so that neither of the great Powers hold sway there and so that the Berliners, at least, can have peace and tranquillity under the auspices of the United Nations until such time as the big Powers begin to think realistically and reasonably in terms of the yearnings of mankind to be free from the fear of destruction? Is that possible? 68. I do not wish to give an answer here to my question.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“We have found that, without the intervention of the United Nations, there would have been a conflagration in the Congo which would have led to a third world war if the big Powers had been allowed to continue their struggle there. 67. On the question of Berlin, so many people have suggested here that it is necessary to have an international police force. Is it possible to isolate Berlin, which has been abandoned as a capital by one of the sections of Germany, with the other half being retained as the capital by the other section?”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“It seems to me that they are not prepared to do so because, again, we find all sorts of problems involved, There is fear about rearming Germany, reuniting Germany, and starting off a third war in that area. 66. Can we solve the problem of Germany without allaying these fears ? Can it be solved with assuring the neighbouring States that what has happened in the past will not happen again? Can there be a permanent solution without going into those matters? Can the big Powers that are rivals in that area be the people who can solve that problem, without taking into consideration those who may be less involved and can see the matter more objectively? That is the question one would like to put to these big Powers.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“What do you want us—us, the small States—to do? X builds Y up according to his philosophy of government and economic development. Z builds P up according to his tenets, and they are both in occupation. The unfortunate thing is that Berlin happens to be completely within one section. Each accuses the other of doing exactly the same thing. Is it not a matter of settling down to examine this problem objectively or, if you cannot examine it objectively, of calling in those who are outside, who are not involved, to examine it? Are the big Powers prepared to examine the German question in the light of truth, honesty and sincerity rather than in terms of power politics?”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Western Germany has been organized as a State with a new capital in Bonn-, developing wonderfully, economically and socially; in fact, it has become one of the strongest, if not the strongest, countries in Europe economically, it was built up by the Western Powers which occupied the area. It is stronger that some of those who built it up. 65. In eastern Germany we find the Eastern Powers building up the area in accordance with their own knowledge of their political organization, and so on, and the area is becoming even more powerful than certain aspects of their own organization. The only difference is that in the East, eastern Germany has not founded a new capital. They are still using the old capital—or, rather, a section of it. Yet each side is accusing the other of doing exactly what it is doing.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“What puzzles me and my delegation is the obvious unwillingness on the part of the great Powers to solve the problem of Berlin. One asks the question: Is it possible to solve the problem of Berlin without solving the problem of Germany? The great Powers that fought together as allies in the late war dillydallied and did not arrive at the conclusion of a peace treaty in respect of Germany. Each group decided to rebuild the area they occupied—even to rearm their respective sections. To us outsiders it is surprising to see that though both sides are doing exactly the same thing in their respective areas, each spends time accusing the other of doing it in his section. We find it in western Germany.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“The views of my country and delegation are well known: if a thing is wrong it is wrong—it does not matter who does it. France exploded atom bombs on the continent of Africa. Nigeria was opposed to it. It was a bad thing. We said, we do not like it. Take it away. As a matter of principle, whoever explodes this dangerous thing and wants to poison the world—whether they be big, small or in between—it is a bad thing and we condemn it." We would sincerely hope that those who are carrying out these explosions will come together and save the world from destruction. The big Powers have started a race of atomic explosions. I sincerely hope they will listen to the voice of the smaller States, which reflect the public opinion of ordinary humanity in the world. 64. We have been reading of Berlin and the Berlin question.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“They want effective and peaceful organization within the Organization because, so long as the United Nations survives and grows in stature and in strength, so long will they have protection for their independence, so long will they have peace in which to develop their economy, so long will they be in a position to bring to their own ideas and notions into a world community like this. 62. That is why my country supports the Organization wholeheartedly and will be opposed to anything that is likely to weaken it; anything that will derogate from the status of the Secretary-General or of the Organization as such. We would not like the cold war to be introduced into the organization of the Secretariat. 63. Others have spoken on the question of atomic explosions by the great Powers.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“The delegation of Nigeria wants the representatives of the black man in the Secretariat, in order to be able to bring in this aspect: the thoughts, the feelings and the yearnings of the African: to inject it into the whole system. Any solution that does not take that into consideration cannot be supported by us. We expect that by the end of this week, or at the latest next week, the big Powers will have had enough time to play themselves off one against the other in their attempt to be big, and will begin to consider the interests of the smaller and newer Powers—because these are in the majority, and want peace and tranquillity.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“That - is what has been happening, and that is why there have been mistakes. Even in the Katanga question there have been mistakes. In the Congo problem there have been mistakes. There were mistakes—and no solutions—until the Africans. intervened; it was only when Africans were sent into the Congo to examine the position there that we started to see a solution to the problem. Whereas, before, all alien interests were fighting one against the other, the Africans saw the solution of the African problem from the point of view of their own internal affairs, their will for peace and tranquillity, their desire to survive as independent nations, to grow, and to contribute to the totality of world peace and world culture. You cannot do that unless you have African representatives on the thirty- eighth floor. 61.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“Let us be realistic in the Organization. Some of the major problems that are bound to face the United Nations, some of the most troublesome problems, are to be found in Africa: Angola, the Congo, Mozambique, South West Africa, Rhodesia, Kenya, Uganda, Ruanda-Urundi, Basutoland, Swaziland, the small Spanish territories—and we have not yet solved the problems of Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania* 60. As long as we have these problems—which are political—so long must we have in the Secretariat, on the thirty-eighth floor, an African who represents the legitimate views, protects the legitimate interests, and portrays to the Secretariat those yearnings of the people of Africa and the way in which they would like the problems of their continent to be solved—not / viewing African problems with an alien eye.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“There must be at least five Under Secretaries on the political level. 58. It has been said that the Secretary-General is an international civil servant and must be insulated from politics. I do not share that view. The Secretary- General is a politician; he is a statesman; he is a diplomat; he is the head 6f an administration—h© combines all those functions. Every time we make speeches here, we make political speeches, The Secretary-General listens to our speeches, and he is influenced by our thoughts and our views, politically. When representatives go to see the Secretary-General in his office, they talk with him as diplomats; they bring their problems; and he is affected diplomatically. 59. We are not going to find any human being who is completely insulated from politics and diplomacy and who is only an administrator.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)
“57. That brings me to a point which I have made before. In the United Nations, Africa insists on full and effective participation in all aspects of the organization of this body. At this session, my delegation will demand and insist that one of the Under-Secretaries on the thirty-eighth floor, in the political set-up, should be an African. We do not agree with the Soviet Union about the troika proposal. That would not work. We support the position that there must be a Secretary- General with powers that will enable him to act freely, in accordance with his conscience and the Charter, powers that will enable him to do what he thinks is right for the Organization. Anything that weakens the Organization is inimical to the best interests of the smaller nations and the world. But we need regional representation.”
1961-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 16 (1961)