U.N. Moves Toward Racialism Declaration

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 15

U.N. Moves Toward Racialism Declaration

(A ZS’.A.-R.eutsr—Copyright)

NEW YORK, October 28. Fhe United Nations is moving toward a vote on a strong formal declaration against racial discrimination. The General Assembly’s Social Committee hopes to complete work on a declaration “on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination,” vote on it by tonight, and rush it to the full Assembly for endorsement.

The declaration denounces racial bias as “an offence to human dignity,” and says any doctrine of racial superiority is “scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous.”

The declaration has the support of most of the smaller states and is expected to go through the 111-nation Assembly with a big majority in tavour. Britain, the United States and some other Western powers, however, may abstain on one clause which calls for legal punishment against organisations promoting discrimination. Western diplomats say such a United Nations demand would not be legally enforceable within normal democratic systems. The Western powers hope the Social Committee will "tone down” this clause. If it remains intact, the British delegation is expected to abstain not only on this one clause, but possibly also on the entire declaration. The United States would almost certainly abstain on the penalty clause. Afro-Asian delegates are expected to make use of the debate for another attack an South African apartheid, which the declaration specifically condemns. The apartheid problem in general will continue to be discussed by the Assembly’s Special Political Committee.

Back-stage negotiations are continuing on a demand by 32 Afro-Asian nations to convene the Security Council to discuss South Africa’s failure to comply with earlier resolutions on apartheid The AfroAsians may also continue efforts this week to get the Assembly’s Credentials Committee to eject the South African delegation. Neutral nations are due to press forward with a resolution in the Assembly’s Main Political Committee urging the Great Powers to expand the Moscow Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty to cover underground tests. At present, only atmo-

spheric, outer-space and underwater nuclear tests are prohibited. A draft resolution already exists, and the neutrals are waiting for reactions from Russia and the United States before publishing it. If the major powers agree, the sponsorship may be widened to all the 17 active members of the United Nations Disarmament Committee, including the United States, Russia an<i Britain.