UN General Assembly
1954

Two years ago, at the seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Vice-President of the Republic of Bolivia and Chairman of our delegation described [384th meeting] the Bolivian people’s victorious fight to enforce the principle of the nationalization of the sources of production and thereby to achieve economic independence and consolidate the country’s political sovereignty. The exhaustive analysis he made at that time constitutes a document of the utmost significance that will always serve for the guidance of the leaders of under-developed countries who are fighting to restore to their peoples the benefit of their sources of wealth, wrongfully withheld by those who represent backward and oppressive feudal systems. 13. At that time, the Uruguayan delegation played a part that earned it a place of honour and the gratitude of the Latin-American countries. The resolution recognizing the right of peoples freely to exploit their natural wealth and resources [resolution 626 (VII)] was adopted by the General Assembly, and its adoption won for the United Nations the gratitude of many peoples throughout the world.