BOYCOTT AT U.N.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29728, 23 January 1962, Page 16

BOYCOTT AT U.N.

Debate On Angola

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) NEW YORK, Jan. 19.

The United Arab Republic yesterday deplored Portugal’s boycott of the General Assembly debate on Angola, saying the presence of the Portuguese delegation could have helped towards an early "peaceful settlement” of the question. The U.A.R. delegate, Mr Samil Hamed, was speaking during the fourth day of the debate on the Portuguese African territory where nationalists have been campaigning for independence for nearly a year. The Portuguese delegation was again absent from the debate. Led by Dr. Vasco Garin, the resident representative, it walked out on Monday after contending that the United Nations debate constituted intervention in a domestic affair. Mr Yordan Tchobanov (Bulgaria) whose delegation co-sponsored a draft resolution calling for diplomatic and economic sanctions against Portugal, aUeged that the Portuguese were attempting to carry out “mass extermination of the native population of Angola." He condemned alleged aid by allies of Portugal, notably the United States and Britain, which he said were supplying Portugal with weapons in a manner “intolerable and inconsistent with the United Nations Charter.” Australian View

Mr J. Plimsoll (Australia) said Portugal should recognise that the Angolan people were entitled in due time to a genuine exercise of the right of self-determination. Portugal felt that its friends were not giving it the support it was entitled to, “but for friends to give her full support, it is necessary for Portugal to pursue policies that enable that support to be given.’’

Dr. G. P. Malalasekera (Ceylon) condemned Portugal for its “acts of physical violence in Angola" and its "obstinacy” in defending its argument that the African territory was part of Portu-