UNO AUTHORITY FLOUTED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 244, 28 July 1947, Page 3

UNO AUTHORITY FLOUTED

CONTEMPT FOR POWERS

ALBANIA, YUGOSLAVIA AND BULGARIA (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.). LONDON, July 26. The United Nations Balkans Sub-Commission announced that Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria had flouted the authority of the United Nations, reports Reuter’s correspondent at Janina. Albania and Yugoslavia had definitely prevented the sub-commis-'sion from conducting investigations on their territories. Bulgaria made unacceptable conditions. “These Governments have shown contempt for the powers which the Security Council gave the sub-commission, which has been unable to apply fully the council’s instructions.

The Soviet and Polish delegates disagreed and appended strongly opposing views. / Continuing the Balkans debate in the Security Council yesterday, Dr. Mevorah (Bulgaria) said the Balkans border commission proposed by the United States would be used as a pressure lever on Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Dr. Mevorah said the Western countries had thus envisaged a proposed Balkans peace machinery which would be empowered to recommend sanctions against those three governments. “Already such sanctions are being provided ,for,” lie declared. Mr A. A. Gromyko (Russia) repeated his arguments that the Security Council had no power to force the Balkan States to co-operate with the proposed border commission. Mr i Herschel Johnson (United States) warned that any failure would subject the non-complying States to serious action to ensure their cooperation. The council could make such decisions under Chapter VI of the Charter.

The president, Dr. Oscar Lange (Poland), adjourned the debate until Monday. He said the matter must be settled next week without fail. Observers say it is clear that the three Soviet satellites would refuse to co-operate ivith a watchdog commission, and that the American-Russian disagreement over the. interpretation of the Charter thi’eatened to affect the future actions of the council.

Corfu Channel Dispute

I United Nations headquarters announced that Albania had agreed to submit its Corfu Channel dispute with Britain to the International Court of ■(Justice as recommended by the Security Council.

It would be the first case presented to the court since it was reconstituted and affiliated Avith United Nations.

Britain has Charged. Albania Avith the illegal mining of the Corfu Channel. Forty-four British seamen were killed when tAvo British destroyers struck mines off the Albanian coast.

Freedom of Information

The economic and Social Council decided to recommend to the Assembly that a world conference on freedom of information be held at Geneva on Mai’ch 23, 1945. Sir Hector McNeill (Britain), supporting the l'eport for the United Nations submission on the freedom of the Press, which is opposed in many of its major aspects by Russia, declared that governments throughout the world should grant two basic rights—the right of the representatives of members of the United Nations to collect news in other member States and persons to transmit news into a country with the guarantee that it could, be read freely. “When we discover a country not allowing these facilities we might ask in the terms of our charter whether they have the right to membership of the United Nations.”