Here is the video clip of Queen
Elizabeth II's visit to New York. It covers her visit at the
UN headquarters from 1:36. Scroll down for the full
transcript.
It follows the full text transcript of
Elizabeth II's Address to the General Assembly
of the United Nations, delivered at New York, N.Y. —
October 21, 1957.
I thank you, Mr.
President, for your words of welcome.
I wish first to
express to you, to the Secretary-General and to
the General Assembly of the United Nations my
great pleasure at being here today.
This Assembly was born of the endeavors of
countless men and women from different nations
who, over the centuries, have pursued the aims
of the preservation of peace between nations,
equality of justice for all before the law and
the right of the peoples of the world to live
their lives in freedom and security.
The Charter of the United Nations was framed
with a view to giving expression to these great
purposes and so forming a fitting memorial to
the men and women whose toil and sacrifices
turned those ideas into articles of faith for
the nations of today.
Time has in fact made the task of the United
Nations more difficult than it seemed when the
terms of the charter were agreed at San
Francisco twelve years ago. We are still far
from the achievement of the ideals which I have
mentioned but we must not be discouraged. The
peoples of the world expect the United Nations
to persevere in its efforts.
Ten Commonwealth countries are represented in
this Assembly — countries which form a free
association of fully independent states and
which have widely different histories, cultures
and traditions. Common ideals and hopes, not
formal bonds, unite the members of the
Commonwealth and promote that association
between them which, in my belief, has
contributed significantly to the cause of human
freedom.
The countries of the Commonwealth regard their
continuing association with one another and
joint service to their high ideals as still an
essential contribution to world peace and
justice. They add and will continue to add to a
tried element of strength, and of accumulated
experience.
The United Nations is an organization, dedicated
to peace, where representatives from all over
the world meet to examine the problems of the
time. In it men and women from all these
countries — large or small, powerful or weak —
can exercise an influence that might otherwise
be denied them. The United Nations also
originates and inspires a wide range of social
and economic activities for the benefit of the
whole human race.
But, Mr. President, the future of this
Organization will be determined, not only by the
degree to which its members observe strictly the
provisions of the charter and cooperate in its
practical activities, but also by the strength
of its people’s devotion to the pursuit of those
great ideals to which I have referred.
When justice and respect for obligations are
firmly established, the United Nations will the
more confidently achieve the goal of a world at
peace, law abiding and prosperous for which men
and women have striven so long and which is the
heart’s desire of every nation here represented.
I offer you my
best wishes in your task and pray that you may
be successful.
