“Difficult, Disappointing U.N. Session”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 16

“Difficult, Disappointing U.N. Session”

(N«w Zealand Prase Association)

WELLINGTON. May 1. “Although the repent United Nations General

Assembly was undoubtedly the meet dramatie In the organisation's history, I am bound to say that, looking back ever its four months and a half ef meetings, it was a difficult and somewhat disappointing session." said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today. He was commenting on the fifteenth session of the General Assembly which concluded’ in the early hours of last Saturday morning.

"The Assembly began In September against a background of disturbing developments in the international field.” said Mr Holyoake. "The abortive Paris summit meeting in May and the tragic events in the Congo cast their shadow over the proceedings. “Gravity”

“The presence of some 30 world leaders in the opening weeks of the session underlined the gravity of the situation. It was, therefore, all the more regrettable that Mr Khrushchev should choose this already critical time to launch a destructive and ouite unjustified attack on the Secretary-General and indeed, upon the whole form and fabric of the United Nations organisation. “I believe, however,” Mr

Holyoake said, "that we can take some satisfaction from the fact that Mr Khrushchev’s violent attacks were resisted by the great majority of members. "It was particularly encouraging to learn, just a few days before the end of the session, that the Assembly had endorsed a resolution on the Congo situation which amounted to an overwhelming vote of confidence in Mr Hammarskjold. “The admission of 17 new member nations during the session was an important development. Sixteen of these new members come from Africa and it is a welcome and necessary development that the United Nations should now be giving close attention to the problems of this vast and swiftlychanging continent,” said the Prime Minister. “Concern"

"But in spite of these and other positive of the session." said Mr Holyoake, “I would be less than frank if I did not acknowledge that some developments leave me with a feeling of disappointment and concern All too often, particularly with regard to colonial problems and racial discrimination. some delegations have shown a tendency to extremism and an unwillingness to accept constructive compromise. I do not want there to be any misunderstanding "New Zealand has made

it unmistakably clear that it does not defend the perpetuation of the colonial system; at the same time, however, we have never been willing to decry every aspect of the colonial system out-of-hand and have seen some dangers in an unnatural forcing of the pace towards independence. Racial Attitude

“Nor have we left any doubt ot our fundamental onposition to policies of racial discrimination, but we have urged the avoidance of courses of action which* In the name of opposition to racial discrimination, would serve only to make matters worse for those most in need of assistance,” the Prime Minister said. “It seems to me. also, that some members have be»n prepared to disregard the most elementary obligations and responsibilities of membership. The financial crisis now confronting the organisation is. I am afraid, the direct result of the irresponsibility of a number of members. both great Powers and small. I cannot over-esti-mate the seriousness of the position which, unless it is soon rectified, threatens to undo much of what has been achieved in the 16 difficult vears of existence of the United Nations organisation,” said Mr Holyoake.