UN General Assembly
1952

23. We often hear colonialism spoken of as an evil which should be eradicated with the least possible delay. If the evil still existed, I should agree with those who denounce it. The word “colonialism", as traditionally used, conjures up a picture of the exploitation of people at a lower stage of civilization by others at a higher stage. 24. Belgium is among the resolute opponents of that kind of colonialism. It has fought against it, not only with words but with deeds. As long ago as 1909, King Albert I said in his speech from the Throne: "For a people who love justice, the effort in the colonies can be nothing else than a civilizing mission". We have followed the path which had been mapped out for us. We abhor all forms of exploitation of labour, and more particularly of labour supplied by backward indigenous peoples. But we believe that with a few rare exceptions — which, incidentally, do not always occur where people tend apparently to look for them — this type of colonialism is obsolete.