UN General Assembly
1967

54. Despite the optimistic note I have sounded, I do not think that the atmosphere of this conference is entirely unclouded. We have an opportunity once a year, apart from emergency situations, to stop and think, to take stock, to ponder together on our work and balance the accounts for the year just past before turning our faces to the future. Because of the dreadful habit we have fallen into of accumulating problems in our files without making a serious effort to find appropriate solutions for them, the inventory for the year shows the liabilities heavily outweighing the assets. I shall endeavour to comment on various aspects of the Organization's work as viewed by my Government. 55. There is no doubt that the Middle East presents the thorniest and most urgent question of the season because of its serious political, social and moral Implications. Yet the fact is not without precedent. It represents a manifestation of history which, if I may say so, is a direct outgrowth of the perfidy of Albion.