N.Z. votes for embargo

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32778, 1 December 1971, Page 3

N.Z. votes for embargo

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) WASHINGTON, November 29. New Zealand switched from an abstention to a positive vote when an apartheid resolution came before a plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly today. The resolution called for full implementation of the embargo on the supply of arms to South Africa, and during earlier discussion of it in the special political committee of the world body, New Zealand representatives had abstained from voting. This morning, when a series of resolutions on apartheid came before the United Nations plenary session for confirmation, the New Zealand Ambassador (Mr J. V. Scott) drew attention to his country’s change of heart. He said that while New Zealand retained reservations about the interpretation of a Clause in the resolution, it had decided to cast an affirmative vote to emphasise the country’s strict observance of the embargo. The change brought New Zealand’s voting record on apartheid resolutions during this session of the General Assembly to eight positive votes and two abstentions. Last year Wellington cast four positive votes and 'abstained three times.

Today’s arms embargo resolution was carried by 107 votes to two, with five abstentions. 'The negative votes were cast by South Africa and Portugal. Those countries which abstained were Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Malawi. The two abstentions which New Zealand representatives recorded involved resolutions discouraging sporting contact with South Africa, and con-

> sjdemtion by the Security ’ CujMicil of,a trade embargo i against it i the assembly today i pMsed the resolution deals' tag With sporting contacts by I 106 votes to two. Among the I seven nations which , abstained were Australia, the United Kingdom, Greece, i Portugal and the Central ; African Republic. Malawi ; joined South Africa in voting ; against it. Twenty - two nations

abstained on the general resolution which included the call for a trade embargo. Among these were the Scandinavian countries, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands and a number of African and Latin American nations. The resolution was carried by. 86 votes to six. The eight other resolutions passed by the assembly covered such topics as an increase in the United Nations effort to publicise the evils of apartheid, condemnation of South Africa’s separate development policy, and means of promoting concerted action against apartheid by the trade union movement. South Africa consistently voted against the resolutions. It was frequently joined by Portugal and Malawi, both of which usually abstained if they did not cast a negative vote. Australia today switched from an abstention to a positive vote against the establishment of the Bantustan black areas in South Africa and the forced transfer of blacks to them. It abstained on the arms embargo vote and on that dealing with actions by trade unions. Canberra voted against the general resolution which sought consideration of a trade embargo. Other countries frequently found in the list of those who had cast abstentions included the United Kingdom and France.