Menon Withdraws Criticism Of Britain

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 18

Menon Withdraws Criticism Of Britain

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 20. The Indian Defence Minister (Mr V. K. Krishna Menon) attacked Britain and the British delegate, Sir Pierson Dixon, in the Security Council yesterday, but later withdrew his remarks and said he did not wish to "hurt” Sir Pierson Dixon or his country in any way. Mr Menon opened his speech on the Kashmir issue with strong criticism of the five-Power resolution tabled on Saturday to send Dr. Frank Graham, the United Nations representative for India and Pakistan, to the sub-continent

to try to facilitate a solution to the Kashmir problem. Mr Menon said India was “totally opposed” to the resolution. Noting Britain’s part in preparing the draft, Mr Menon said Britain was the country which “stole the country of India in the first instance by forgery.” Ever since, the Kashmir question had come before the council, Mr Menon said, Britain had taken a "totally partisan attitude, giving no assistance for the protection and security of India, which is as much their concern as ours.”

He said Britain had not forgiven India for her attitude after the invasion of Egypt. Mr Menon later asked that any references he had made to Britain be expunged from the record. Whether the British representative was prepared to accept or not, he would withdraw the expressions, he said. Mr Menon said he had no wish to hurt Sir Pierson Dixon or his country in any way. The feelings he had expressed were those which had been aroused in India in the last few days, he said.