UN General Assembly
1957

139. Of course, the plans for weakening the socialist countries by an economic blockade are built on sand. History records many instances where individual States or whole coalitions of Powers have attempted to employ economic blockade as a means of imposing their will upon other States. These attempts have never been successful. 140. I would remind you that at one time an attempt was made to squeeze the Soviet Union in the vise of an economic blockade. What was the final result? We not only successfully overcame the difficulties artificially created for us, but were able to overtake and outstrip many leading capitalist countries, and we are continuing to make steady progress in our economic development. At the same time, we have adequately developed the domestic production of types of goods which we were previously interested in obtaining from the Western countries. 141. The attempts which are still being made at the present time to impose an economic blockade on countries which, in size, population and industrial production, represent one third of mankind are quite ridiculous.