227. Editorial Note
At its afternoon meeting on October 11, the U.N. General Assembly considered a Soviet proposal to discuss disarmament entirely in plenary rather than in the First Committee, as the General Committee had recommended. Chairman Khrushchev spoke in support of his delegation’s proposal. Ambassador Wadsworth gave the U.S. response advocating that the matter be referred to the Committee. “We do this because we think that disarmament is a complex subject requiring serious consideration, and not a subject to be exploited for propaganda purposes,” he stated.
Khrushchev exercised his right of reply after several other delegates had spoken. The Western nations, he declared, were “the propagandists, and they have become past masters in propagandizing their views.” Angrily he announced that “if war breaks out, it will break out all over the globe,” and warned: “If war is imposed on us, we shall fight for our country and we shall be victorious, no matter what sacrifices it may cost us.” The New York Times reported that as Khrushchev returned to his seat in the General Assembly Hall, he noticed that none of the Spanish Delegation was applauding his statement. He then began shouting in Russian at the delegation and shaking his finger at one of its members, who stood and answered him. A U.N. security officer stepped between them. (October 12, 1960, pages A1 and A17) For Khrushchev’s account of this incident, which apparently combines it with one occurring on October 1, see Khrushchev Remembers:The Last Testament, page 473.
Following a second statement by Wadsworth and comments from other representatives, the General Assembly decided by a vote of 62 for, 12 against, and 24 abstentions to assign the question of disarmament to the First Committee. The United States voted in favor of this proposal. The General Assembly then voted against the Soviet proposal to consider the item in plenary by a vote of 13 for, 54 against, and 31 abstentions. The United States voted against this proposal. For a record of these proceedings and the texts of the statements made during them, see U.N. doc. A/PV.900.
The following afternoon, the General Assembly considered a Soviet proposal to discuss in plenary an item on granting independence to colonial countries. Khrushchev again led the debate, speaking in favor of the proposal. The New York Times reported that the discussion proceeded without incident until Philippine Delegate Sumulong spoke. When Romanian Representative Mezincescu interrupted Sumulong on a point of order, Khrushchev joined him at the podium, where he gestured at Sumulong. Upon returning to his desk, Khrushchev removed his right shoe, stood up, and waved it at [Page 420] Sumulong, who had resumed speaking. Khrushchev then beat his desk with his shoe, and also hit the desk with his fists, as he had done during previous meetings. (October 13, 1960, page A1)
Several other delegates addressed the General Assembly after Sumulong finished speaking. During a statement by Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Wilcox, however, Khrushchev waved his arm and shook his finger at him, then removed his shoe once more and waved it at Wilcox. Mezincescu again interrupted the proceedings on a point of order, then began criticizing General Assembly President Boland for allowing Wilcox to refer to countries in Eastern Europe. At this point, Boland banged his gavel with such force that its head flew off, and adjourned the meeting. (Ibid.) For a record of these proceedings and the texts of the statements made during them, see U.N. doc. A/PV.902.
Khrushchev ended his 25-day visit to the United Nations at 11:47 p.m., October 13, when his plane took off from New York International Airport. For extracts of his departure statement, see The New York Times, October 14, 1960, page A3.