POWERS' DOMINATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 228, 25 August 1945, Page 6

POWERS' DOMINATION

REPRESENTATION ON UNRRA

(Pec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Auk. 24 A strongly worded protest against domination by the Great Powers was lodged at the plenary session of the Unrra Council by Mr S. M. Bruce, Australian llijih Commissioner. His resolution, that the central committee be enlarged to nine members by the addition of Australia. Brazil and Yu«o slavia, was defeated only 1 ecause Russia as a member of the central committee voted against it although 29 voted for it. Three abstained, including tiie United States.

"With all respect to the Russian representative. I think this Council lias been treated in an almost insulting Avay," said Mr Bruce. "No reason has been given why the Soviet Union considers that the resolution should not be passed." Mr Bruce added that one of the principles at stake was whether there should be domination by the Great Powers or whether the principles ot Democracy should be sustained. "What had just taken place had a very deep international significance. Mr Noel-Baker, United Kingdom delegate, said he expected the n atter would be on the agenda at the next Council meeting and appealed to the Russian delegate to reconsider his opinion. Some other Powers felt it might be desirable to have riodified the distribution of responsibility as well as opportunity for the views of other nations besides the Great Powers to be expressed in considering the great problems coining before the Council. Towards the close of the session alter the defeat of Mr Bruce's resolution the Soviet delegate asked that his vote be recorded as an abstention instead of a negative. He explained that he had detailed his attitude towards Mr- Bruce's suggestion on pievious occasions and maintained that he had not had time to receive definite instructions from the Soviet Go\ eminent.

The Soviet change of vote does rot nullify the defeat of the resolution as llnrra's constitution stipulates that on the consideration of such a r> ; atter the affirmative votes must include those of every member of the central committee.

Mr Bruce welcomed the Russian delegate's statement and expressed the hope that there was a possibility of reconsideration of the situation within two months.