TRIBUTE TO MR LIE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27010, 9 April 1953, Page 9

TRIBUTE TO MR LIE

Retirement From United Nations (Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 7. Western delegates to the United Nations paid warm tributes to Mr Trygve Lie when his term as Secre-tary-General came to an end today with the appointment of Mr Dag Hammarskjoeld as his successor, but the Russian delegate, Mr Vyshinsky said that Mr Lie’s resignation was belated. Mr Vyshinsky claimed that Mr Lie had occupied the post illegally since 1950 when the Soviet Union, because of Mr Lie’s stand on Korea, ceased to recognise him. Mr Vyshinsky said that the fact that Mr Lie had continued to function after that time alone sufficed to “appraise the moral and political character of Mr Lie.” Mr Henry Cabot Lodge, of the United States and Sir Gladwyn Jebb, for. Britain, paid warm tributes to the work done by Mt Lie. Mr L. K. Munro, for New Zealand, who said that the delegations of Australia, Canada and South Africa were associated with him, made special

mention of Mr Lie’s efforts to promote the economic and social wellbeing of the smaller countries. The part he had played in preserving the people of Korea would live in history. Mr Lie in reply said that he handed over his office without regret and with undiminished faith in the future of the United Nations. No man in his position could fail to make mistakes and he had probably made his share, but there was a sense of satisfaction in knowing that he had done the best he could in the role that history had chosen for him, and that there were many others to carry on the unfinished task of construcing a more peaceful world order. The United Nations was the expression of the most constructive forces of the world, and a symbol of hope for the future. One Vote Against The General Assembly elected Mr Hammarskjoeld by 57 votes to one, with one abstention. The balloting was secret and the country which voted against Mr Hammarskjoeld was not known. It was believed that Nationalist China abstained.

After announcing the result of the ballot, the Assembly President (Mr Lester Pearson) said he hoped Mr Hammarskjoeld would be in New York to attend the session of the General Assembly on Friday for the ceremony of induction. The Assembly applauded Mr Hammarskjoeld’s election and the crowded public galleries joined in. -Before the election, Mr Pearson praised Mr Lie for his wholehearted zeal and determination in the interests of the United Nations. “I am confident that it is the desire of the Assembly that I, as President, express to Mr Lie our lasting contribution during these historic years towards the firm establishment of our United Nations as a bulwark of peace, a course .which, of course, found in him a staunch and forward-looking champion,” said Mr Pearson. Before taking the ballot the Assemably agreed that Mr Hammarskjoeld’s appointment should be for a term of five years, the same as Mr Lie was given. Mr Lie was appointed in 1946. and his term was extended' in 1950 when the major Powers failed to agree on a successor.