UN General Assembly
1967

119. My Government endorses the right of all States to take whatever measures they deem necessary to ensure their self-defence, but we would urge the suppliers and the recipients of arms to exercise restraint in their sale and acquisition so that a serious imbalance of arms does not develop in any area where it might lead to the outbreak of fighting. The United States recently proposed the registration of arms shipments to the Middle East, for instance, and we think that this is a practical, constructive and forward- looking proposal to which this Organization might well lend its good offices. We would hope that the principal arms suppliers to the area would give it serious consideration.