180. Editorial Note
On September 22, President Eisenhower addressed the 15th regular session of the U.N. General Assembly during the general debate. He emphasized U.S. support for the United Nations, maintaining that only “through the United Nations and its truly democratic processes can humanity make real and universal progress towards the goal of peace with justice. Therefore, I believe that to support the United Nations and its properly constituted mechanisms and its selected officers is the road of greatest promise in peaceful progress. To attempt to hinder or stultify the United Nations or to deprecate its importance is to contribute to world unrest and, indeed, to incite the crises that from time to time so disturb all men.”
[Page 345]President Eisenhower concluded: “As we enter the decade of the 1960’s, let us launch a renewed effort to strengthen this international community, to forge new bonds between its Members in undertaking new ventures on behalf of all mankind. As we take up this task, let us not delude ourselves that the absence of war alone is a sufficient basis for a peaceful world. I repeat, we must also build a world of justice under law, and we must overcome poverty, illiteracy and disease.”
For text of President Eisenhower’s address, see U.N. doc. A/PV.868. For his own account of the address, see Waging Peace, 1956–1961, pages 579–581.
On September 22, Bohlen sent Herter a note evaluating the reaction to Eisenhower’s speech. One comment from the Soviet Delegation “was that it was ‘restrained in tone.’ The other was that it was not as bad as it might have been but not as good as it could have been. Mr. Khrushchev’s comment when leaving the building when asked his opinion was I am going to lunch.’” The speech had generally impressed the non-Communist nations, although the U.N. Secretariat was concerned that Eisenhower’s praise of Hammarskjöld might provide “ammunition for those who claim he is prejudiced on the Western side.” Bohlen termed this fear “nonsense and of no moment whatsoever.” (Washington National Records Center, RG 59, Conference Files: FRC 83–0068, CF 1772)