GOVERNMENT “REGRET”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29609, 4 September 1961, Page 10

GOVERNMENT “REGRET”

U.N. Diplomat In Fight (N.Z.P.A.-Reu ter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Sept. 1. The United States Government “deeply regrets” the inaident involving the deputy leader of Guinea's delegation to the United Nations and New York policemen in Harlem on Saturday, the United States State Department said last night. Mr Collet and police were in a fight after the diplomat’s car and a taxi were involved in a minor collision The Guinean delegation later accused New York police of racial discrimination and brutality. It also said the incident was typical of the threats and insults which it claimed African diplomats encountered in the United States. The New York Police Commissioner (Mr Michael Murphy) stated in a report to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (Mr Ad lai Stevenson), and the Mayor of New York (Mr Robert Wagner), that “the police action was proper and . . . there was no misconduct by any member of the force.” The State Department statement noted ‘‘with great concern" statements by African diplomats that they had been the victims of outrages while in the United States. It gave an assurance that the United States Government was aware of its obligations to afford the diplomats the protection and courtesy ‘‘to which international law arid the simple rules of civilised human conduct entitled them.” The statement - did not express an opinion on the facts of the incident involving Mr Collet and the policemen. Patrolman James O’Grady and Detective Richard Dillon.