UN General Assembly
1958

48. It is only fair to acknowledge that the role of the United Nations in the settlement of disputes has been of some importance; the Middle East crisis is a recent case in point. The unanimity which was displayed in adopting the resolution proposed by the ten countries of the League of Arab States [resolution 1237 (ES-III)] at the time of the third emergency special session is evidence of the value of our Organization. I should like to point out here that the Government of Laos has followed closely all the missions which the Secretary-General has undertaken in the best interests of peace; although his great modesty is known to me, yet I should like to congratulate him publicly on the energy and ability he has displayed wherever international tension required his presence. In the Middle East, as elsewhere, he has carried on the work of conciliation and pacification and we are justified in saying that he has served the cause of peace well. Thus, despite the pessimism which coloured my words when I first spoke, there is a promise of better things thanks to the United Nations, which has helped to limit the effects of situations fraught with danger.