UN General Assembly
1957

85. The practice during the general debate which traditionally begins our sessions has been to enumerate the main problems before our Organization, beginning as a rule with the most critical and controversial ones. I have often felt that it is a pity the General Assembly has thus become a closed arena where opposing ideas clash, instead of a place where common solutions to problems are sought. But this will continue to be the case for a long time to come unless we endeavour to define and limit our function. 86. Breaking away from this tradition, I should like to devote the first part of my address to a problem on which almost unanimous agreement is possible, a problem characteristic of the subjects with which we have to deal, namely, assistance to under-developed countries. 87. Since May 1956, France has shown by definite proposals that it is deeply interested in this question and regards it as the key to peace and stability throughout the world.