World Youth At Loggerheads

Press, Issue 32345, 10 July 1970, Page 13

World Youth At Loggerheads

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) NEW YORK, July 9. Delegates from 100 nations yesterday set out, at a world assembly of youth at the United Nations, to seek greater international harmony; but even before they began their discussions, they found themselves embroiled in squabbles over age and membership.

More than 600 young people had been gathering in New York for several days for the 10-day assembly—the first major event of the United Nations’ twenty-fifth anniversary year, and described as a forum for discussion about poverty and politics, war and peace, and other

problems with which youth is concerned. But Communist participants served notice that they would ask for the expulsion of the Taiwan, South Vietnamese and South Korean delegates. And the Dutch and the Irish, along with some others, have said privately that they will make an issue about the failure of a number of national delegations—in particular, the Russians—to observe the recommended age limits of 18 to 25. The Russians have sent a group whose youngest member is 25 and the eldest 33. Some members of other delegations are said to be even older. In spite of the prospect of a quarrelsome assembly, little different from the regular deliberations of middleaged and older United Nations diplomats, there were some sighs of relief among members of the older generation when it became apparent that hippie types would be in the minority. The United Nations delegates’ main bar, closed on Monday for the duration of the assembly—ostensibly for repairs—has already been reopened. One observer commented: “It is evident that this group will consume more pop than pot.” Some of the youthful participants have begun to follow the United Nations line, right down to boycotts: the Arab members have spurned an invitation from the Mayor of New York (Mr John Lindsay) to a party at Gracie Mansion, because of his stand in support of the Israelis.