U.N. DEBATE ON HUNGARY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29057, 20 November 1959, Page 15

U.N. DEBATE ON HUNGARY

Soviet Objections May Be Overridden (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, November 19. Western delegations at the United Nations were reported to be ready today to override Soviet objections to a General Assembly debate on Hungary. Usually reliable sources said they expected an announcement during the day for a meeting of the Steering Committee to recommended inclusion of an, item on the Hungarian problem on the agenda of the 82member forum.

The committee had been called to meet this afternoon, but the session was hurriedly cancelled when the Soviet delegate (Mr Arkady Sobolev) questioned the legality of the request for inclusion of the new item by the Assembly’s special representative on Hungary, Sir Leslie Munro, of New Zealand.

In a memorandum accompanying his formal letter of request. Sir Leslie Munro, a former President of the Assembly, asserted that a “framework of repression” continued in Hungary and there was “widespread concern” over trials there and the “Imminent possibility of further executions. ’ Sir Leslie Munro did not disclose the contents of the report he has prepared for the Assembly, and it was believed that he planned to release this as part of an address to the Assembly. Soviet objections were believed to have centred on this aspect. The Soviet position was said to be that the United Nations was being asked to place a matter on its agenda about which no concrete information had been offered. Mr Sobolev was believed also to have questioned Sir Leslie Munro’s right to ask for Assembly action. The New Zealand diplomat’s own view, supported by some Western opinion, is said to be that as a United Nations “organ,” he may request Assembly action. This and other aspects of the

situation all were expected to be clarified today after further consultation between the President of the Assembly (Dr. Victor Belaunde) and other delegates. Indications were that the Steering Committee would still be called, possibly tomorrow or on Monday. Then, its recommendation to include an item on Hungary in the Assembly agenda was regarded as assured. Mr Henry Cabot Lodge said yesterday that the United States favoured a full debate. “The Assembly must speak out strongly against the brutalising of the Hungarian people,” Mr Lodge said.

“All those responsible in and out of Hungary should work with the rest of us to carry out the overwhelmingly adopted resolutions of the United Nations.”