<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Dag Hammarskjöld (1905--1961) </Td> <Td> 10 April 1953--18 September 1961 </Td> <Td> Sweden </Td> <Td> Western European & Others </Td> <Td> Died in a plane crash in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), while on a peacekeeping mission to the Congo . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="6"> After a series of candidates were vetoed, Hammarskjöld emerged as an option that was acceptable to the Security Council . He was re-elected unanimously to a second term in 1957 . The Soviet Union was angered by Hammarskjöld's leadership of the UN during the Congo Crisis, and suggested that the position of Secretary - General be replaced by a troika, or three - man executive . Facing great opposition from the Western nations, the Soviet Union gave up on its suggestion . Hammarskjöld was killed in a plane crash in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in 1961 . U.S. President John F. Kennedy called Hammarskjöld "the greatest statesman of our century". </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> U Thant (1909--1974) </Td> <Td> 30 November 1961--31 December 1971 </Td> <Td> Burma </Td> <Td> Asia - Pacific </Td> <Td> Declined to stand for a third election . </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="6"> In the process of replacing Hammarskjöld, the developing world insisted on a non-European and non-American Secretary - General . U Thant was nominated . However, due to opposition from the French (Thant had chaired a committee on Algerian independence) and the Arabs (Burma supported Israel), Thant was only appointed for the remainder of Hammarskjöld's term . He was the first Asian Secretary - General . The following year, on 30 November, Thant was unanimously re-elected to a new term ending on 3 November 1966 . He was re-elected on 2 December 1966, finally for a full 5 - year term, ending on 31 December 1971 . Thant did not seek a third election . </Td> </Tr>

Who was general secretary of the united nations when the declaration was developed