UN General Assembly
1951

69. Another tendency which, unless curbed, is likely to be most damaging to the prestige of the United Nations, and which in addition has proved most wasteful of time, is the tendency to indulge in the vituperation and vilification of fellow delegates and Member States. Let us have criticism by all means, informed and constructive criticism of each other’s view points; after all, out of the clash of ideas and views, truth may be born. But is it really conducive to the dignity and prestige of this Organization, or to the furtherance of their own case, for representatives to stoop to the language that is sometimes heard in this august Assembly? The calling of names and the use of sneers cannot, after all, take the place of argument; yet in the United Nations armoury of some representatives these are the chief weapons, in addition to the sowing of suspicion, the ascribing of motives and the employment of threats. It may be, of course, that the temptation which a world forum offers is partly to blame for this state of affairs, but our aims should surely be to use this forum in the constructive cause of world peace and the promotion of a better feeling between countries, rather than to exploit it for our petty bickerings, our national vendettas and mutual recriminations. Such abuse of this forum may gain cheap applause and fleeting fame, but what does it do to build bridges between nations and to promote understanding?