Sir Leslie Munro’s Task To End

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30005, 14 December 1962, Page 13

Sir Leslie Munro’s Task To End

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

NEW YORK, December 13.

Sir Leslie Munro’s “watchdog” role, as the United Nations special representative for Hungary, is expected to end next week. A United Nations source said last night that the General Assembly was expected to discontinue the New Zealander’s role next week when it debated the Hungarian question.

The Secretary-General, U Thant, will probably be asked to keep the Hungarian question under review and diplomats expect him to take up early next year a Hungarian Government invitation to visit Budapest. Diplomatic sources said the United States was expected to present a mild resolution to the General Assembly’s special political committee. They predicted that the draft would express appreciation for Sir Leslie Munro s efforts, which would have the effect of terminating his 11,000-dollar-a-year post. Sir Leslie Munro, a former president of the General Assembly. was appointed special representative for Hungary in 1958 when he was asked to investigate conditions in the country in the wake of the 1956 revolt. He was never able to obtain entry into Hungary but has submitted annual reports on the situation there from information gathered from refugees and other sources outside the country. Although the United States

has formally denied recent reports of an East-West deal on Hungary, diplomats said there were firm indications that the United States was prepared to “take the heat off” the Hungarian regime to some extent. Washington was reported to hope that by this attitude it could win practical concessions from the Hungarian authorities at home, such as an amnesty for political prisoners gaoled as a result of their activities in the revolution. The question of the release of Cardinal Josef Mindszenty, who remains in the American Legation in Budapest, was not involved at the diplomatic level, informants said. The cardinal is reported to have refused to leave Hungary, although the Hungarian authorities are said to be willing to grant him safe passage. The United States will maintain its opposition to having the United Nations recognise the credentials of the Hungarian delegation, sources said. The nine-member credentials committee is expected to take up this question in a few days. The United States was re-

ported hopeful that a 5-3 majority would block recognition, although other Western diplomats were not so sure. These diplomats forecast a possible 4-4 vote with one abstention, which would result in recognition of the delegation for the first time.