UN General Assembly
1959

18. Nuclear test explosions, apart from their bearing on the question of disarmament, have another aspect also, which makes it necessary that they be given special and prior consideration. These explosions are followed by after-effects which are injurious to living organisms. A part of my country is situated in the belt of the greatest concentration of radio-active fall out. Furthermore, rice, which absorbs radio-active substances to a much larger extent than other crops, forms the staple food of the majority of our population. It is gratifying to note that the great Powers have themselves suspended nuclear tests for the time being, but this suspension rests on a precarious basis. It is our earnest hope that in the forthcoming talks between President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Khrushchev, as well as in the negotiations to be resumed in three weeks, a way will be found permanently to put a stop to all nuclear explosions. Meanwhile, we hope that neither side will resume testing pending the conclusion of a permanent agreement.