The luncheon hosted by Hammarskjöld was attended by prominent UN delegates and senior officials of the Secretariat.
In addition to members of the Saudi royal entourage, the luncheon was also attended by the President of the General Assembly, Prince Wan, the Foreign Minister of Thailand, the eight Vice‑Presidents of the General Assembly, the President of the Security Council for the month of January, and the heads of the Asian‑African delegations.
His Majesty delivered a speech in Arabic, which was immediately translated into the five official languages of the United Nations: English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese.
Following this, the head of the Saudi delegation to the UN, Mr. Abdullah Al‑Khayyal, hosted a formal reception at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in honor of His Majesty. A special banquet was also held for him, attended by the delegates of the Asian‑African nations.
For the first time, the world heard—within the halls of the UN General Assembly—an Arab monarch, His Majesty King Saud, speaking in the language of the Holy Qur’an.
He began his address with: “In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.”
Eighty‑plus delegates, representing more than eighty nations, raised their heads and listened attentively to the Arab King who had come from the heart of the Arabian desert.
They found his tone calm and clear, his style balanced and dignified. When his words were translated into their languages, they recognized in them truth, goodwill, sound judgment, and clear reasoning.
They unanimously expressed admiration and respect, and honored him with exceptional warmth.
He spoke to them about the message of peace, saying:
“The principles of the United Nations Charter have found sincere response and warm welcome among my people. We are a peaceful nation by nature. Many of you know that the true meaning of peace is that we live in peace with one another.
Our Islamic law recorded more than thirteen centuries ago that all people are equal, and that God created them as nations and tribes so that they may know one another and cooperate.
Thus were laid the foundations of international cooperation and lasting peace.”
He added that policies of domination and outdated ambitions—those that have repeatedly plunged humanity into war, suffering, and destruction—still tempt some souls, leading them away from the principles of justice embodied in the UN Charter, and thus away from the right path.
He explained that such misguided policies are the root of the tension and instability afflicting humanity today, the cause of the Cold War, and the danger of the arms race that drains the world’s resources.
His words left a deep and favorable impression on the representatives of the world’s nations.
King Saud presented them with an honest image of the Arab world, dispelling misconceptions long fueled by malicious Zionist propaganda spread across the globe.
Beyond the international forum, millions of Americans who heard, saw, and read King Saud’s words in newspapers, radio, and television felt the impact of his message.
One can imagine the shock this caused Israel and the Jewish organizations in America and elsewhere, and understand why the three and a half million Jews in New York reacted with anger at the mere news of King Saud’s visit—why they threatened hostile demonstrations, spread rumors, and launched propaganda campaigns.
His Majesty’s response to all this was firm and eloquent:
“When Moses came and cast down his staff, the magic and the magician vanished.”