CZECH COUP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 135, 19 March 1948, Page 3

CZECH COUP

Chile’s Request to be Heard

DECISION OF SECURITY COUNCIL (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright). NEW YORK, March 17. The Security Council decided to-day, by nine votes to two, to place on its agenda Chile’s request that the situation in Czechoslovakia be investigated. Russia and the Ukraine voted against the motion.

The Council also decided to invite a Chilean representative to attend the Council to present Chile’s case.

The Council decided to debate the case on March 22. It will also then discuss whether it will-hear Mr Jan Papanek, whom the Czech Government last week dismissed as its United Nations delegate after he had charged Russia with complicity’ in the Communist coup in Czechoslovakia. Mr Gromyko (Russia) challenged the Security Council’s .right to investigate the situation in Czechoslovakia. Mr Gromyko told the council that the change in the Prague regime was an internal matter outside the United Nations’ jurisdiction. Any charges that Russia had interfered in Czechoslovakia were a libel. Not a single fact had been submitted by Chile in support of its claim that the situation in Czechoslovakia constituted a threat to the peace. The formation of a new Czech Government was the concern of the Czechoslovak people themselves in execution of their sovereign rights. Sir Alexander Cadogan (Britain) said that Chile’s declaration that another member of the United Nations, namely, Russia, had intervened in the affairs of another State with the threat of the use of force was a serious charge. It was a charge of violation of the Charter. Sir Alexander Cadogan was supported by Mr Warren Austin (United States), ’ who said that the council could not evade the responsibility of giving Chile’s charges a hearing.