COMMENT BY U.K. PRESS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29330, 8 October 1960, Page 10

COMMENT BY U.K. PRESS

“Commonweal th Split” Seen (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON. October 6. The clash in the United Nations General Assembly yesterday between Mr Nehru and Mr Menzies over the flve-Power resolution calling for an Eisenhower-Khrushchev meeting was given front-page headlines in this morning’s British press. Mr Menzies’ move was overwhelmingly defeated by a negative vote of 45 to five, with 44 abstentions. Four members were absent.

A message in the “Daily Mail’’ called it “an angry Commonwealth split.” The "Daily Herald” claimed that Mr Nehru had made a “blistering attack” on the Australian Prime Minister.

The New York correspondent of the “News Chronicle” said: “The Prime Ministers of India and Australia clashed head-on in the United Nations Assembly today and split the Commonwealth apart on a burning issue. "The issue—what should be the first step to end the cold war? — is one that Mr Nehru, as he told the Assembly, feels ‘ passionately’ about. The caustic epithets he flung at Mr Menzies were the measure of his passion.”

Mr Menzies proposed an amendment to the five-Power resolution. The amendment called for a four-Power summit meeting' rather than a two-Power discussion. Mr Nehru said that Mr Menzies, by moving the amendment, was “verging on absurdity.” “The Scotsman" submitted that the "short-cut” to talks at the highest level favoured by Mr Menzies might be illusory. “Hopes must be pinned to the future President, though Mr Nehru evidently fears that if something is not done now to facilitate a meeting it will become more, and not less, difficult to arrange contacts between the United States and Russia. “The desired end is the resumption of talks at the highest level if no sensible arrangements cah be reached at a lower one. but the short-cut which Mr Menzies favours might be illusory,” "The Scotsman” said.