UN General Assembly
1957

2. It is ten years since I had the honour of being with you and, indeed, of presiding over the discussions in the Assembly. On returning, after a decade, it is with great emotion that I find here the same endeavour to serve our great ideal, inspiring my newly-met fellow-workers as well as those among the old companions who have returned, like myself, to the scene of our joint labours. Ten years ago a hard war had ended, and in the United Nations our main concern and conversations were about peace. Today, when peace is needed as never before in order that mankind may survive, the talk is almost only of war. It is common knowledge that in that space of time, instead of disarming, the nations not only have continued to arm themselves at an increasing rate, but they have even created dreadful weapons which a few great Powers practically monopolize. It would seem that the grim privilege of casting the lot for war or for peace lies in the hands of those who command the newly developed source of energy or who may command it in future. It might be feared, consequently, that conditions would be established which would permit the existence of world dictatorships under the very shadow of the United Nations, in a complete negation of the spirit which brought about the rise of this Organization.