COMMITTEE CLASH

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 August 1946, Page 8

COMMITTEE CLASH

EVATT AND MOLOTOV AT

VARIANCE

CHAIRMANSHIP ISSUE . London, July 30. “A clash between Dr. H. V. Evatt (Australia) and Mr. Molotov marked the opening meeting of the peace conference’s committee on procedure,” says the Paris correspondent of the Associated. Press. “As soon as the meeting opened, Dr. Evatt nominated M. Paul Spaak (Belgium) as chairman of the committee. Mr. Molotov countered with the nomination of M. Edvard Kardelj, the Jugoslav Vice-Premier.”

Warm Debate.

The debate raged across the table for more than an hour, with delegates displaying considerable warmth. M. Spaak "was eventually elected, with M. Kardelj as vice-chairman. The committee decided to admit the press to its meetings. It also decided to recommend to the plenary session of the conference that all meetings of the conference should henceforth be open to the press. “New Zealand and India are believed to object to the two-thirds majority voting rule at the Paris Conference almost as strongly as Australia. It is understood that neither Canada fior South Africa is 5 enamoured o'f it,” says the Paris correspondent of The Times.

Soviet’s Support.

“Behind their sincere belief that recommendations in a democratic gathering ought to -be carried by a simple majority, there lies the belief that the Soviet Union can count on the support of a third of the members of all or most of the commissions, and 'so could prevent any alterations in the draft treaties from being made.” The Times comments that the argument could be equally well applied to other Powers. Reuter’s' correspondent says 'that the British Commonwealth delegations are believed to be keeping each other fully informed on their views on voting procedure.