COMPLAINT TO U.N.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28513, 17 February 1958, Page 9

COMPLAINT TO U.N.

Tunisia Calls For Meeting

(Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 15.

Preparations were going on at United Nations headquarters yesterday to call a meeting of the Security Council consider Tunisia’s complaint against France on the bombing by French aircraft last Sunday of the Tunisian border village of Sakiet Sidi Youssef. Mr Mongu Slim, the Tunisian Ambassador, formally requested the convening of the Security Council in a letter last night to Mr Arkady Sobolev of the Soviet Union, who is this month’s President of the Council. In his letter, Mr Slim referred to the “act of aggression’’ committed by France. Delegates from African and Asian States in the United Nations were meeting today to discuss the dispute. Mr Slim, who is also chairman of this group this month, was expected to explain his Government’s attitude and seek support from the other 28 members. Only two of the group—Japan and Iraq—are in the Security Council. Before making his formal request, Mr Slim sent a letter to Mr Sobolev citing Article .51 of the charter [dealing with the right of self-defencel and warning that his Government declined responsibility for the consequences of any French attempt to break Tunisian restrictions on troop dispositions. No definite date had been arranged last night for the Security Council meeting, but informed sources said it was likely to be held either on Monday or Tuesday of next week. French Counter

A French Foreign Office spokesman announced yesterday that France will lodge her countercomplaint against Tunisia with the United Nations Security Council on Monday. Official sources said France will charge that elements coming from Tunisia had repeatedly violated the Algerian frontier. The Foreign Office spokesman said France’s complaint would “at least counter - balance the Tunisian complaint, if it does not outweigh it” Tunisia said in its complaint that French actions threatened her security and endangered international peace and security in North Africa. Mr Slim asked the council to take whatever decision it might consider appropriate to put an end to a situation, which, he said, threatened Tunisian security and international peace. The French Foreign Minister (Mr Christian Pineau), addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, appealed to Tunisia to call off the blockade of French garrisons and talk over all outstanding problems in a quiet atmosphere. Asked if the French Government knew the Sakiet was going to be bombed before the operation took place, Mr Pineau said, “No, but the Government takes the responsibility.”

Atlas Test Fails CAPE CANAVERAL (Florida), February 15. An Atlas inter-continental ballistic missile failed to lift from its launching pad at the missile test centre at Cape Canaveral today.