U.N. Stalemate Possible

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31412, 4 July 1967, Page 15

U.N. Stalemate Possible

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

NEW YORK, July 3.

The General Assembly’s verbal battle to solve the Middle East crisis inched towards a stalemate today, delegates playing tug-o’-war over five resolutions for peace.

Some observers believed the Assembly’s special emergency session on the ArabIsraeli war, convened on July 17 at the Kremlin’s request, might fizzle out without adopting any of the rival proposals, Soviet, United States and Albanian drafts might be considered too extreme to warrant voting consideration when the Assembly resumes. Voting is due to begin today and attention is focused on the two resolutions that have the best chances of adoption. One is the demand for the unconditional withdrawal of Israeli troops to positions held before the outbreak of war on June 5, sponsored by Jugoslavia and a number of non-aligned states, and backed by Russia and France. The non-aligned sponsors spent the week-end revising their document hoping it would attract wider support. But the changes were minor, and authoritative Western

sources predicted the United States and Britain could register enough votes to defeat it. These Western sources were optimistic about the resolution sponsored by 18 Latin American States postponing any withdrawal of forces until the end of belligerency in the area.

I If neither of these resolutions wins the necessary two- • thirds majority, the Assembly ' could end later this week , without having taken any ■ peace action. The issue then . would probably be returned to I the Security Council.