Frank Speaking By U Thant In Russia

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29916, 1 September 1962, Page 11

Frank Speaking By U Thant In Russia

( N. Z. P. A.-Reuter— Copyright; NEW YORK, Aug. 31. U Thant, the United Nations SecretaryGeneral, said in a broadcast over Moscow Radio last night that “fear and suspicion” were in evidence in the Soviet Union, as in the West. “Let me be candid." he said. “When the Soviet foreign policy did concern itself with what was happening in the rest of the world—for instance in the Congo—it did so out of fear and suspicion: fear of losing potential

friends and suspicion of what it regarded as ‘imperialism’" The text of U Thant’s broadcast was received at United Nations headquarters in New York yesterday. He said that the Soviet people's “lack of understanding" of the true character of the Congo problem probably was due to the "absence of presentation of the other side of the coin." He said he was sure that “if only they have the means of knowing all thd facets of the problem they will certainly revise their opinion of the "ature of the United Nations involvement in the Congo and decide to shoulder their share of the heavy responsibilities now being undertaken by the world

organisation in seeking a peaceful solution of the Congo problem"

The Soviet Union has declined to pay any part of the costs of the United Nations' peace-keeping operation in the Congo. Observers said that U Thant’s frank speaking appeared to be fully in line with his oft-repeated statement that he would not let Great Power considerations influence him and that all his actions were based on a conscientious assessment of what was right. He said that the leaders of the Soviet Union —he saw the Prime Minister <Mr Khrushchev). President Leonid Brezhnev, and the Foreign Minister (Mr Gromyko),

among others —impressed him "with their desire for peace and their keenness to do away with the vestiges of the last war.”

"But,” he said, “fear and suspicion which for so long have characterised international relations are still in evidence here as in the West."

After referring to the Russians’ lack of understanding of the Congo question, he said: “I am saying all this with a heavy heart, because diplomacy demands honeyed words. I am not a believer in honeyed words, since they will not help the great and courageous people of the Soviet Union to arrive at a balanced appraisal of the situation."