Soviet Sees Air Clash As “Provocation”

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26211, 7 September 1950, Page 7

Soviet Sees Air Clash As “Provocation”

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 5. Mr Jacoh Malik, Soviet delegate in the Security Council, to-day called the American report that a Russian airman was shot down in Korean waters “a provocative statement made by General MacArthur and the War Department.” * The air incident was reported to the Council by the chief United States delegate, Mr Warren Austin, who said Russia appeared to have been trying to increase the tension between Communist China and the nations fighting the North Koreans. Mr Malik said the incident had been brought forward to facilitate the United States’ efforts- to spread aggression in Korea. “As a place for this provocation the sea was chosen, in order to make it easier to conceal the rather sharp corners of the whole matter,” he said. Russian experts at Lake Success were unable to explain what was meant by “sharp corners.” In Washington, a State Department spokesman said it was not yet certain whether the twin-engined bomber shot down by United Nations forces off Korea yesterday was Russian. It had been identified only to the extent of its bearing a Red Star and carrying a lieutenant of the Soviet armed forces whose body had been recovered after the incident.

Mr Malik again spoke at length of the “barbarous bombing” of Korean towns by United Nations’ aeroplanes. He asked the Council to reject the current American resolution, which, he said, was merely designed to cover up American aggression against the Korean people.

This resolution is the one left hanging in the air when Mr Malik took over as Council president for August, ft condemns the North Korean authorities for their continued defiance of the Security Council and calls on all countries to refrain from assisting or encouraging the North Koreans.