POLAND URGES U.N. TO BAN EXPORT OF ARMS TO SPAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22940, 7 May 1949, Page 5

POLAND URGES U.N. TO BAN EXPORT OF ARMS TO SPAIN

(11 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 6. Poland has called on the General Assembly to ban export of arms, ammunition and strategic materials to Spain.

In a resolution introduced before the political committee yesterday, Poland also proposed that all members of the United Nations should refrain from entering into an agreement or treaties with General Franco. / It also sought to reaffirm the previous Assembly, resolutions, including a ban on the appointment of Ambassadors to Madrid. The Polish resolution noted that Britain, the United States and several other countries had “continued to strengthen their political and economic relations with Franco Spain, thereby preventing the establishment of a democratic Spanish regime.” Secret Alliance Alleged Mr. Katz-Suchy, Poland, alleged that a secret military agreement existed between the United States and the Franco Government in Spain. He was speaking in the debate on the United Nations’ attitude to the Franco regime. He asserted that many American political and military leaders had been going to Spain in recent months, all with the object of an alliance with Franco, who was demanding a price—entry into United Nations —in exchange for the American right to use Spanish harbours and airfields. Mr. Katz Suchy said it was the United States and Britain who bofe the major responsibility for the continued existence of the Franco regime. Britain had obediently thrown in her lot with the United States and there was no limit to which the United States policy makers would not go. The Spanish people were still persecuted by the Franco Government. Thousands still languished in jails and labour camps and Nazi refugees were welcomed. Political Underground “A very strong political underground movement, however, is massing the people of Spain for a revolution against this regime of terror,” he said. Senor Nuniz, Brazil, introduced a joint resolution on behalf of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru, calling for full freedom of action being granted to U.N. members in their diplomatic relations with Spain. In 1946, the General Assembly resolution urged the withdrawal of Ambassadors from Madrid.

The joint resolution said that because the 1946 resolution failed to obtain a two-thirds vote reaffirmation in 1947, certain Goverments had interpreted the negative vote as virtually revoking the ban on Ambassadors. Senor Nuniz said: “All we seek is that the General Assembly release members of United Nations from an obligation which has not been complied with by many, and which has proven detrimental to those members who have adhered to it.’ 1

The committee adjourned without voting on the resolution.