UN General Assembly
1951

49. A certain delegation has stated in this Assembly that the part which the United Nations Assembly can play in dealing with certain problems can only be limited and problems of such magnitude should in the first place be settled by the great Powers among themselves. In my opinion, this idea is entirely misconceived. The Uruguayan delegation is not going to fall into the error of denying the extremely important functions of the great Powers, but it would like to affirm the function which the smaller Powers can perform in this Assembly, for, in the aggregate, they comprise hundreds of millions of voices and speak for whole continents whose votes in the Assembly may be effectively felt in decisions on the problems before it. The smaller countries can act through tire United Nations Assembly in close relation to the great Powers, and even in opposition to them, and so collaborate in seeking the way to peace and strengthening it. We might say that a fundamental difference between the great Powers and the smaller countries is that the latter cannot initiate any great conflict involving the whole world; but the sufferings imposed by war fall equally upon everyone, as do economic and social disturbances. This means that peace is needed equally by all.