ARMS REDUCTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 November 1946, Page 7

ARMS REDUCTION

UNO COMMITTEES TO SUBMIT REPORT SPAIN ALSO ON AGENDA NEW YORK, October 31. Mt- Vyshinsky; at the United Nations Assembly’s general committee meeting, agreed to the motion, of Mr P. Noel-Baker (Britain) that the Russian resolution on armaments reduction be-placed on the Assembly’s agenda, with a recommendation that it be referred to the appropriate committes for a report. The committee, after a long discussion, took similar action on a request from Belgium, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Norway, and Venezuela that the Spanish question be placed on the Assembly’s agenda as a separate item. It was pointed out that there were six items on the provisional agenda dealing with this subject, all* of which were concerned with the same political issues and should be considered together. Mr Vyshinsky, reiterating the Russian criticisms, said: “The accursed Spanish question is dishonouring Europe.’ He said that Russia welcomed a debate on it, but “we have had enough words and it is time for action.” Senor Juan Carlos Blanco (Uruguay) joined in the chorus protesting against the Spanish regime. He said it was essential to abolish those Governments which had co-operated with the Axis. Danube Navigation

The Secretary-General of the United Nations (Mi- Trygve Lie) announced that Russia, Jugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia had rejected the American proposal for an international conference on Danube navigation. Britain and Greece had approved the proposal. France had informed the United Nations that she was interested in the suggestion, but would participate in a conference only if Russia, Jugoslavia and Czechoslovakia did so. The United States originally proposed the conference to the Social and Economic Council of UNO, which agreed to sponsor it. The Ukraine’s Foreign Minister (Mr Manuilsky), winding up the debate in the Assembly, declared that “dark forces of evil” were trying to poison public opinion to provoke a new war. He said that those nations which urged revision of the Charter were striving to promote discord and conflict among the Great Powers. “Immunity for Warmongers” Mr Manuilsky scorned “the socalled 0 freedom of speech.” He said: “Propaganda is being carried on under the eyes of Governments, who helplessly shrug their shoulders and declare that they are unable to do anything against this evil because of freedom of speech and the press. This is strange, because freedom of speech and the press, interpreted in this manner, creates imunity for warmongers.” Mr Manuilsky accused the “AngloSaxon” majority of trying to create a monopoly in the Security Council. He particularly criticised Australia and Cuba 'for pressing for revision of the voting procedure. He said that their proposals “echo the propaganda of the advocates of a new war.” Was the voice of one Cuban equal to the voice of 100 Chinese? Mr Manuilsky added. He denied that the Ukraine and White Russian delegates took' their orders from the Soviet. He said they acted in accordance with their own conscience and convictions.

M. Joseph Bech (Luxemburg) criticising Sir Carl Berendsen’s description linking the Charter with the veto as “a shot-gun wedding,” said it was rather a marriage of convenience. Such marriages often proved happier than the sentimental union which took no realities into account, he said. British Reply to Albania ~ Mr Noel-Baker (Britain) said that Albania’s complaints that British warships in Albanian waters had threatened international peace were not substantiated. [Albania alleged in two Notes to the United Nations that four Brtish warships on October 22 entered Albanian ' waters round Saranta, Kakomes, and Borsi, without Albanian permission, thereby threatening international relations.] Mr Noel Baker commented: “I wonder how long it would have been before Albania was liberated from Fascist rule if the British forces whom Albania now treats as hostile had not stood alone against the Axis. I should have thought, putting all other considerations aside, that Albania would have been most eager to welcome in any way any member of the British armed forces, instead of talking about provocative incursions and violations of territorial waters.

“I note that the Albanian Government is most careful not to suggest that there should be any impartial international inquiry into its unsubstantiated allegations. This does not surprise me, but I confess that it leaves me wondering why.”