CHINA ADAMANT ON VIETNAM

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 15

CHINA ADAMANT ON VIETNAM

(N.Z P.A. -Reuter— Copyright) PEKING, September 2. China yesterday took the unusual step of issuing an “authorised statement” to deny reports that it would consider discussing Vietnam at the United Nations if granted membership in the Security Council.

The statement was issued by the New China News Agency. It accused the French weekly “Nouvel Observateur" of publishing “distortions and fabrications" last month on the recent talks in Peking between Chinese leaders and the French Minister of Culture. Mr Andre Malraux. The statement repeated China’s view that the United Nations “Has absolutely no say” on the ’’ietnam war. The world organisation had degenerated into a tool of the United States, the statement said, reiterating the demand that “the United Nations must correct its mistakes and must be thoroughly reorganised.” The statement made clear that, in spite of its bitter attacks on the United Nations.

China would continue to press for membership. The statement did not mention that several countries had placed the question of China’s recognition on the agenda for the next General Assembly session, opening on September 21.

Hurricane Changes Course.— Hurricane Betsy turned on her full fury tonight and changed course slightly as she churned through the Atlantic and threatened to deliver a 100 m.p.h. punch into the more populous islands of the Bahamas chain. Weathermen said the slow-moving storm was still a couple of days from any population centre and there was no way to predict what might happen in between. —Miami, Sept. 1.