VYSHINSKY REFUSES TO ANSWER

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1948, Page 5

VYSHINSKY REFUSES TO ANSWER

(Rec. 10.5 a.m.) PARIS, October 15.

The Security Council resumed the debate on the Eerlin crisis after nine days’ pause for mediation efforts. .Mr Vyshinsky (Soviet) attended.

General McNaughton (Canada) sai dthe six netrals on the council did not intend to draft a resolution to attempt mediation. They wanted the fullest information and addressed their question to the Big Four.

The acting chairman, Dr Bramuglia (Argentine) said the Council was considering the transcendent event in contemporary history. The roots of his problem were deep and there were many phases. Intelligence had not always been the guide. The Security Council had been created to considei- dangerous problems and Berlin was one.

“Horrible Century”

Dr Bramuglia said: “We have 50 years to go before this horrible century is over. We must make a supreme effort for peace. It is for this reason that the Council is undertaking to try to solve the Berlin problem.”

Faris el Khouri (Syria) appealed to the Big Powei’s to “compromise and make concessions to appease world anxiety.” He also urged the Four Powers to renew their direct negotiations in an attempt to settle the dispute.

Canada, Colombia and Argentina expressed similar views to Faris el Khouri’s. Dr Bramuglia said he expected the debate to be short as he imagined the delegates wanted time for further study of the problem.

Two Questions Put

Dr Bramuglia put the following questions to the four Powers concerned in the dispute:—

1. We request the representatives of the United States, Britain, France and Russia to explain how the travel restrictions in Berlin and between the Eastern and Western zones of Germany arose. 2. To explain circumstantially the agreement involved in the instructions given to the Military Governors of Berlin and the reasons that prevent the implementation of that agreement. Dr Bramuglia said that if the Big Four representatives could not answer, at once, he was sure the Security Council would wait till the next meeting.

Western Powers Ready

Sir Alexander Cadogan (Britain, Dr Jessup (United States) and M. Parodi (France) said they were prepared to give Dr Bramulglia the information wanted.

Mr Vyshinsky said he would not reply to the two question as he had no intention of. changing his “boycott” of the Security Council. Mr Vyshinsky added that _ there would be no Berlin question in the Western Powers had . not violated agreements between the four Powers. He repeated the Soviet argument that the dispute belonged to-the Big Four Council of Foreign Ministers, not the Security Council. - “Asking these two questions. is_just a trick to try to drag the Soviet delegation into a discussion of the Berlin question in the Council,” he said. “It is naive to think the Soviet delegation will swallow this bait, or let itself.be caught-id the fly-paper.” • ’ .The Council adjourned until-Tues-day. ...