UN General Assembly
1946

Its members have pointed to the vision of President Truman of a “peace with justice for all; justice for small nations and for large nations and justice for individuals without distinction as to race, creed or colour — a peace that will advance, not retard, the attainment of the four freedoms”. United in this aspiration, as we appear to be, we are united in service. From disagreement we forge agreement. From free and frank discussion of differing points of view we extract the degree of unity necessary for constructive action. It would help us if we should always make our chief concern what is right, not who is right. There is an injunction contained in the Constitution of Vermont, my native state. It calls for “a frequent recurrence to fundamental principles”. It seems to me, that before this general debate comes to an end, it would be helpful for us all to recur to the fundamental principles of the United Nations.