Russia Objects To Several Clauses

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25548, 16 July 1948, Page 7

Russia Objects To Several Clauses

SECURITY COUNCIL DEFERS VOTE (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, July 15. In the Security Council last night Russia suddenly objected to several key sections of the American resolution ordering a halt to the Palestine war. The Soviet stand threatened to delay or even kill the plan to issue a cease-fire order to the Arabs and Jews. Mr Gromyko raised the Soviet objections and made counter* proposals as the Council appeared to be about to vote. The American resolution had six affirmative votes pledged, but seven are needed, and Russia appears to be in a position to force a series of. changes and deletions. The president of the Council (Mr Manuilsky) adjourned the meeting after Mr Gromyko’s speech to enable the delegations to discuss the Soviet proposals. The Council will meet again to-day. Russia accepted those sections of the resolution calling for a halt to fighting within three days of the passage of the resolution under pain of economic and military sanctions. It also agreed to an immediate cease-fire in Jerusalem. Mr Gromyko said, however, that Count Bernadotte’s mediation efforts had ignored the General Assembly’s partition plan, which was in full effect, and that therefore there was no need for further attempts at mediation. Mr Gromyko objected strongly to the American proposal that the new truce should continue until a peaceful solution was found'. He contended that such a step would virtually rule out the possibility of an independent and sovereign State of Israel, since there was no apparent prospect that a settlement would ever be reached between the Arabs and Jews.