UN General Assembly
1950

A year ago, when the fourth session of the General Assembly met, there was an atmosphere of optimism and determination to accomplish the work before us. The President of that session, General Romulo, expressed the hope that the fourth Assembly might become known as the “Peace Assembly”. Now, twelve months later, that spirit of optimism has given way to a spirit of acute concern, if not fear, at the dangers which threaten the peace of the world. It was this which lead the United States Secretary of State to say the other day [279th meeting] that a feeling of anxiety pervaded our hopes and our work. “Why is it”, he asked, “that we have been unable to achieve peace and security through the United Nations in these five years?”