UN General Assembly
1959

7. Some people affect to believe that a balance of armaments between the great Powers or the existing Power-blocs is the surest safeguard against the outbreak of war. We cannot share that opinion if it presupposes a continuation of the armaments race. Even if the assertion was valid in the present situation, there is the question of ensuring that this balance will be constantly maintained in such general conditions. It is obvious that it can only be maintained on the basis of an agreed plan, that is, if it is based on gradual and agreed international disarmament. It might be objected that this implies the acceptance of a certain risk in the meantime. It is worth taking such a risk; first, because it will tend to strengthen peace, which already implies a measure of understanding and also an agreement on limiting the risk; and second, because such a risk is certainly incomparably less than the risk of continuing a headlong arms race.