U.N. Plunged Into Gloom As Assembly Opens

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 15

U.N. Plunged Into Gloom As Assembly Opens

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, September 19. The United Nations was plunged into gloom today by the death yesterday of the Secretary-General (Mr Dag Hammarskjold), on the eve of the Assembly’s opening in New York.

Mr Hammarskjold’s death in an aircraft crash while on his way to meet President Tshombe of Katanga to discuss a cease-fire between United Nations and Katanga forces shocked President Kennedy’s Administration and posed a major crisis for the world.

Gerald Griffin, chief Wash, ington correspondent for the “Baltimore Sun.” commented today: “The Soviet Union will be able to force the United Nations into a dead, lock over the selection of a new Secretary-General and this at a time when the United States was looking to the United Nations as a stabilising element, not only in the Congo, but possibly in Berlin.” Berlin. disarmament. Chinese representation, even the Congo—which led to Mr Hammarskjold’s death assumed less significance against the bitter struggle that the United Nations faced to save its executive structure, observers said. The 99-member Assembly was expected to make an early effort to grapple with the problem, possibly appointing an interim head for the organisation. Soviet Demands But the issue of a permanent successor to Mr Ham. marskjold remained clouded by Soviet demands, launched last year and pressed ever since, that the SecretaryGeneral be supplanted by an executive triumvirate of officials representing Communist, Western and neutralist camps, each with the right to veto the decisions of the others. Observers felt that the Soviet Union, which attempted to remove Mr Hammarskjold from his post last year, would make a new attack on the United Nations Secretariat and re-introduce its demand for this “troika” doctrine. The “troika," in the view of the United States, would

paralyse the United Nations and drastically curtail its powers to preserve the peace. The Security Council alone may nominate a SecretaryGeneral, and the Soviet Union, through its veto, could block indefinitely any candi. date offered by other mem-

bers, as it did before Mr Hammarskjold himself was chosen in 1953. Adoption of the “troika” plan, bitterly opposed by the West, would require amendment of the United Nations Charter, which itself is subject to veto. Therefore, shott of a compromise that inevitably would take months to work out, the United Nations appeared certain to be virtually paralysed without an effective policymaking head to implement its peace-making decisions. Gloomy Outlook

Western diplomats said the outlook was gloomy indeed. Some sources harboured fears for the very future of the organisation at a time when, they said, the critical problems of the cold war, especially over Berlin, had made its importance greater than ever.

President Kennedy himself is expected at the United Nations on Friday or Monday to present a new peace plan to the Assembly, and Mr Hammarskjold’s death is ex. pected to prompt the United States leader to appeal for new support for the United Nations and a solution of East-West difficulties.

Reports persisted today that the Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev) also would come, but there was no confirmation that he planned a return visit.

It was while he was in New York last year that Mr Khrushchev began the Soviet offensive against Mr Hammarskjold, calling him a “tool of the colonisers” because of the SecretaryGeneral's policies in the Congo. The Soviet Union gave no hint of any let-up even after Mr Hammarskjold’s death, dissociating itself last night from a formal tribute paid to the Secretary-General by other members of the Security Council. Western sources said the Soviet attitude was a clear indication that the Russians would press their “troika” plan now for all they were worth, placing every possible obstruction in the way of choosing a successor as Secretary-General. A Security Council communique expressing “shock and grief” at the death of Mr Hammarskjold said in the final paragraph:— “The representative of the U.S.S.R., while associating his delegation with the expression of condolence, states that the Soviet Union is known not to have recognised Mr Hammarskjold as an official

of the United Nations and does not share the appraisal of his political activities which is contained, in the communique.” Council Meeting There was no indication when the Security Council might meet to consider the question of a successor to Mr Hammarskjold, informed sources said last night They said there would have to be intensive discussions among governments before the Council was convened on the issue.

In the meantime, the Assembly was thought to be able to decide what interim measures might be taken to continue direction of the Secretariat, without reference to the veto-ridden council.

Backstage consultations among delegates this morning were expected to establish a pattern for the first days of the Assembly sessions. Among those mentioned in speculation on a successor were the “Chef de Cabinet,” Mr Chakravarthi Narasimhan, an Indian, Mr Andrew Cordier and Dr. Ralph Bunche. both Americans, and Mr Mongi Slim, a Tunisian.

Mr Narasimhan, Mr Cordier and Dr. Bunche were all members of the top executive staff who worked under Mr Hammarskjold’s immediate direction and served as his senior advisory unit.

Mr Slim was the leader of the Tunisian delegation to the Assembly and a candidate for the presidency of the Assembly. Faced With Crisis

President Kennedy felt that Mr Hammarskjold’s death meant that the United Nations was faced with a serious crisis and that he should address the Assembly session to demonstrate his support for the United Nations and its purposes, White House officials said. The President earlier had decided to address the Assembly, but later developments led him to reconsider. Yesterday’s tragic news persuaded him to make the definite decision to go.

The White House declined to speculate on the substance of the President’s speech, but it has been widely reported that he would make a dramatic appeal for peace and disarmament.

Mr Kennedy issued a sombre statement yesterday expressing his deep sense of shock and loss at the Secre-tary-General's death. He called on all United

Nations members to follow Mr Hammarskjold’* “great ambition” of trying to build the United Nations into an effective instrument of peace. The White House spokesman last night confirmed that the President had received official reports of the air tragedy, but he refused to issue details or to comment on reports that sabotage might have been involved. Tributes Paid

Tributes from all over the world, from heads of State. Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, and from ordinary citizens poured into the United Nations today. Tlie early stages of the Assembly session were expected to be devoted to further expressions of regret by delegates. A suggestion yesterday that the Assembly opening might be postponed or that the session be convoked and then adjourned for at least 24 hours—some delegates said there should be an even longer adjournment—appeared unlikely to be followed today on grounds that the vital business before the world forum could not be put off.

It was also felt by many that Mr Hammarskjold. to whose devotion and dedication so many tributes have been paid, would not have wanted such an adjournment.

It appeared likely that the Assembly, opening under the temporary presidency of Mr F. H. Boland (Ireland), would elect Mr Slim its new-presi-dent and then hear a number of tributes to Mr Hammarskjold before taking up other business from its record 95item agenda. It still was not known if the Soviet Foreign Minister 'Mr Andrei Gromyko) would take the opportunity to launch an Immediate debate on the issue of Chinese repre. sentation, raising the question as a “point of order." New Zealand has submitted a formal item on the subject, and the United States would counter such a Soviet move by insisting that it would be a breach of the rules to debate the question before the Steering Committee had considered the proposed agenda.

Lottery Win.— First prize of £lO,OOO in a Melbourne lottery drawn today went to a New Zealand ticketholder, “8.W.," of Rotorua (ticket number 24522).—(Melbourne, September 19.)