THE PRESS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1979. U.N. vote against Iran

Press, 6 December 1979, Page 20

THE PRESS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1979. U.N. vote against Iran

The unanimous call by the United Nations Security Council for the release of the American hostages held by Iranians in Teheran is a welcome sign that the world organisation can put aside ideological differences to assert the importance of the status of diplomats. "hie fact that the Iranians have said that they do not recognise the Security Council is not unexpected. The responsibility for the lives of the Americans rests squarely with the Iranian Government. Whether the Iranian Government, which is indistinguishable from the person of Ayatollah Khomeiny at the moment, can exercise control over the students remains to be seen. It would be a good, if uncharacteristic gesture, if Ayatollah Khomeiny. having had support for his position in the referendum being held in Iran, required the students to free the hostages. The spiritual leader of Iran’s Kurds, Sheikh Ezzeddin Hosseini, has argued that the occupation of the American Embassy in Teheran is a diversion to whip up public support for the constitutional changes sought by the Ayatollah. Responsible voices in the United States have expressed similar opinions If that is so, once the referendum has ended the Ayatollah might free the hostages. E'owever. until some action demonstrates otherwise, it would seem sounder to conclude that Iran is still in a state of revolutionary confusion and that the Ayatollah intends to keep it that way using the original focus of hatred of the Shah to sustain the present fervour. If the Ayatollah s actions have been extreme and eccentric. he is also following a recognisable political pattern of appealing to an external threat to maintain unity at home. Even now. his ability to control events in many parts of Tran is, at best, uncertain. If Iran de»clines further into anarchy the prospect that the hostages will die must increase. The Shah’s rule is easy enough to criticise. The timing of the criticism this week by Mr Edward Kennedy seemed totally irresponsible. Openness of debate is one of the

most attractive features of the United States, but in delicate negotiations for the lives of Americans held by people who have shown little comprehension of the way the American public is feeling about the hostages, it would seem rash to believe that Mr Kennedy’s comments would be seen in the context of open American debate. They are more likely to be seen in Iran as confirmation that some Americans are on a different side of the question from their Government. That is not correct. For nearly a month public opinion in the United States has shown remarkable restraint towards Iran and a commendable appreciation of President Carter’s cautious policy. The interpretation of American activities in the Gulf and throughout the Middle East is difficult. The withdrawal of non-essential American diplomatic staff and the positioning of American naval craft appear ominous. It cannot be seriously entertained that the United States would go to war over the hostages. However, if any are killed it is highly likely that the United States will strike quickly against Iran. It must be hoped that the Iranian authorities are not tempted to threaten or attack any American craft. It is an axiom of American behaviour that the United States will strike against any State which threatens any Navy ships. Only a major threat to the supply of oil would surely have been seen by the United States as sufficient ground to launch a war, however limited in intention. But the longer the crisis lasts the greater the dangers will become. The heavy responsibility of seeking the release of the hostages has been given by the United Nations to its Secretary-General. Dr Kurt Waldheim. He has already shown himself acutely aware that the present situation contains the dreadful potential of war. He is better placed than President Carter to negotiate the release of the hostages, but there is still little indication that Ayatollah Khomeiny, or the Iranians holding the hostages, are going to be impressed by the moral authority of a unanimous vote in the United Nations Security Council.