‘Thant Unlikely To Stay’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31135, 11 August 1966, Page 17

‘Thant Unlikely To Stay’

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, August 10. U Thant—saddened and disillusioned by a gruelling task often termed impos-sible-will probably turn down a second term as United Nations SecretaryGeneral, diplomats said in the United Nations privately today.

A U.N. spokesman declined again to comment on yet another report, in a United States newspaper, that U Thant will announce his resignation in September. His term expires on November 3.

He has permitted no official comment on the speculation about his intentions, and his silence has encouraged the sense of apprehension in United Nations circle. The belief is that if he was going to stay on for a full five-year term he would have said so before now, because

there would be no point keeping the organisation in suspense on so important a matter. Contrarily, an announcement of his resigna tic n months ahead of its taking effect would have reduced his political influence, leaving him in a power vacuum for the rest of his term. If U Thant leaves he could 1 be expected to declare his i readiness to stay on for a s spell, perhaps a year or more, > while the council seeks a suei cessor. This is what a number of > important members of the I council now think may hap- ; pen. > U Thant’s personal incllna-

tion has been clear for some time. He has said publicly that he would like the council to find somebody else, and that he does not think this would be too hard a task. Few delegates take such a sanguine view. Finding a successor with the support and confidence of all the Great Powers and the overwhelm-

ing mass of the membership is considered to be formidable —so formidable that virtually no member state has dared face up to the problem, in the hope that U Thant may yet save the United Nations from the task. If he does step down, the reasons will not be hard to find. He is saddened by the daily bloodshed in Vietnam and disillusioned by the

utter failure of all his own efforts, personally and officially, to find a formula for peace talks. This, almost certainly, ir the view of many observers would be a principal reason for resignation. U Thant follows a gruelling six-day-a-week schedule, relaxing only on Sundays, when he is on call at home. In five years, he has taken only an occasional few days’ holiday, and then at the absolute insistence of his doctor. Most people here consider that his 74,800 dollars a yea* salary, plus allowances, is little enough for the work and responsibilities. When he retires he will get a pension for life of about 12,300 dollars tax-free.