U Thant On U.N. Role In Crises

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30044, 31 January 1963, Page 15

U Thant On U.N. Role In Crises

(M2. Pram Amoctatton— Copyright) NEW YORK, Jaautry 80. The beet thing the United Nations can do to earn tension in trouble spots is to bring about a better understanding among the big Powers involved. The United Nations Secretary-General (U Thant) gave this assessment in a wide-ranging press conference in New York yesterday.

He was asked what toe United Nations could do in the face at reports of a new Soviet buiW-up in Cubs. He said if one said toe presents of Soviet technicians to Cuba constituted a threat to peace in the area there were also others who said that toe presence of American troops to South Vietnam constituted a similar threat

"What the United Nations s ">uM now do to Cuba, South Vietnam or anywhere is to explore means of easing tension and bringing about a better understanding among toe powers involved," he said.

Much of U Thant's press conference was devoted to the Congo. He defended the United Nations* use of force ip Kitinfi as necessary for the fulfilment of its authorised objectives. Re and most Wtofmherß agreed that it had been “quite legitimate." U Thant said the active military phase of toe United

Nations operation was about over and he would begin reducing the force from its pre* •ent IBjOOO men to ebout 11000 or 134M0 by tim end of March.

But tide ttd not mean tte force wue no longer needed. R ted vital teaks, indudtag teiptag foe Cantatas Ceotrei Government pot dowr. tribal warfesu and maintetatag law and order. U Itant ata dtoctooed tat after two yean and a MM during which tte United Natwne teelf tec borne the burden of economic ted to the Oonta be wue consulting the Oootatoee Prime Mtatoter (Mr Atfouto) about ponribte btetent agreemente. Uris was foe prindpte reason for a new Amertan mtoteon to

U Tbta'sta threw, out toned Mat Umt he wax reedy -4 WWI —J teaup tsmaici, oiaiayß ana the Philippines try to settle talr dtflewnces over North Soraeo and Branei.

The situation in toe area had the ptemtite to become “very serious,** and he wee beeping a close wnteh on it, “wife a view to devising some fomnulaUona which mititt help to ease toe tension.”