‘Luxury Liner' Atmosphere Of U.N. Headquarters

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31520, 7 November 1967, Page 22

‘Luxury Liner' Atmosphere Of U.N. Headquarters

(N.ZP.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK. Touring the United Nations headquarters, alongside Manhattan’s East river, is like strolling about the decks and spacious rooms of an ocean liner.

“The illusion of being on board a luxury ship is so strong that you can almost feel the vibration,” says one long-time worker in the international organisation. Every modern comfort surrounds the United Nations’

"first-class passengers,” the. Government representatives ; of 122 member-countries, who! send about 5000 people to New York each year They sit in chambers and conference rooms designed and decorated to inspire peaceful feelings; walk through richly-carpeted corridors filled with a priceless wealth of art and sculpture; and relax in delegates’ lounges which acknowledge equally their taste for sophistication and simplicity. From the lounges there is a wide view of the river. On days when the wind creates choppy waters, the illusion of being on board ship is even stronger. “Tourist-class” The "tourist-class passengers” are the 3900 members of the United Nations staff who work in the 39-storey secretariat and most of whom do not have access to the privileged settings reserved for delegates in the General Assembly building. Certain amenities are available to all, and there are so many cultural and recrea-

rtional clubs that virtually i every interest is accommoi! dated. Tennis, soccer, bowii ing, jazz, chess, philately, bridge, the theatre, ballroom I dancing, ballet, art, horseback I riding, cricket, flying, pistol '■ shooting, all have their clubs. ; There is even a judo club for ■ men and women. ' The United Nations has its ; own barber’s shop, a “cooperative" which carries an ! assortment of merchandise at ' discount prices, a post office providing regular mail ser- ’ vices and selling the United ! Nations own stamps, and ! modestly-priced dining rooms. Art Donations Dotted through the 18-acre headquarters are artistic donations from countries and ’ individuals. Among more than ’ 60 such art pieces are a ■ tapestry of Picdsso’s “Woman on a Ladder”; murals by ' Fernand Leger; a large ■ stained-glass window by Marc Chagall, symbolising man’s 1 struggle for peace; two huge murals titled respectively ’ “War” and “Peace,” by the 1 late Candido Portinari, of Brazil; and one of the largest mural tapestries woven, called “Triumph of Peace,” given by Belgium. I In front of the secretariat building stands a 21ft high bronze abstract sculpture by the British artist, Babara Hepworth, entitled “Single Form." It was a memorial tribute to the former | Secretary-General, Mr Dag Hammarskjoeld. 2000 Roses

The spacious United Nations gardens, where Mr Hammarskjoeld often walked, contain some 2000 rose bushes among a wide variety of trees and flowers.

I Visitors continue to flock to the United Nations. Nearly 300,000 people visited the headquarters in the first four months of this year—4o.ooo more than the previous record total for a similar period. But there are still those who would like to see the United Nations moved from New York. Every few months, someone complains that the world body would be better off somewhere else. Delegates do not spend 24 hours a day lin their comfortable headI quarters, and many find the (contrast of the rude, cold, expensive city outside too hard ito take.