U Thant May Be Mediator

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29725, 19 January 1962, Page 9

U Thant May Be Mediator

(N.Z. Preu Association— Copyright)

NEW YORK, January 18.

The United Nations acting Sec-retary-General (U Thant) seemed the unquestioned mediator today in the West New Guinea dispute, after his formal appeal yesterday to the Netherlands and Indonesia to accept his services as peacemaker in the dispute over the Dutch-held territory.

Last nigiht the United States State Department urged the two nations to make a “speedy and positive response’’ to U Thant’s appeal on a peaceful settlement of the crisis. The department expressed strong support for the SecretaryGeneral’s appeal. U Thant called on both the Indonesian President (Dr. Soekarno) and the Dutch Prime Minister (Professor Jan de Quay), to refrain from any hasty action as a result of Sunday’s naval cloeh off the New Guinea caost.

His new appeal came as a report from Djakarta stated that Indonesia now was placing its hopes in U Thant as the best means of avoiding war over New Guinea. Professor de Quay is expected to give a favourable reply to U Thant’s urgent appeal. Sources close to the Dutch delegation said Professor de Quay’s response probably would be cabled directly to the United Nations during the day. President Soekarno is also expected to reply promptly. Talks With Kennedy The issue will be high on the agenda tomorrow when U Thant confers in New York with President Kennedy. The President is coming to New York from Washington for a “get acquainted” luncheon session with the United Nations Secretary-General.

In his cables to Dr Soekarno and Professor de Quay last night, U Thant earnestly requested them to refrain from “any precipitate action following the clash of naval vessels.” He also asked that their representatives at the United Nations be “instructed to discuss with me the possibilibiee of a peaceful setttement of the whole question in conformity with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.” It was presumed that U Thaot envisaged three-perty talks with the representatives. with himself sitting in So tar his conferences with the Dutch and Indonesian delegates have been independent of each other. Yesterday he talked briefly

with the Dutch resident representative (Mr Carl Schurmann) and later had a conference with the Indonesian chief delegate (Mr Sukarjo Wirjopranoto). No details were disclosed officially.