Vehement Attack On Britain, U.S.

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1947, Page 5

Vehement Attack On Britain , U.S.

(Received 1 p.m.)

NEW YORK, October 3

A LONG, vehement statement by M. Manuilsky (Ukraine) marked the opening of the UNO political committee’s general debate on the Balkans question today. M, Manuilsky attacked the British and the United States for “illegal intervention” in Greece, saying the Assembly should: (1) Order immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from Greece.

(2) Forbid any Government sending military aid to Greece. (3) Give the Greek people an opportunity to solve their own problems without foreign interference.

Sir Carl Berendsen (New Zealand) emphasised that the Soviet vetoes had frustrated United Nations’ action in Greece and he strongly supported the United States resolution, which declares Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania guilty of aggression and seeks establishment of a special UNO commission to watch the Balkan situation.

He supported a French amendment, which simply calls on the countries concerned not to help the guerillas.

M. Paul Henri Spaak (Belgium) said there was nothing to support the charge that the presence of British troops in Greece constituted a threat to international peace. United States’.intervention, while it might not be the best political method, had resulted in establishment of a more liberal Government in Greece.

The report of the United Nations’ Balkans Commission was undoubtedly impartial, and its critics were simply trying to reverse the reports in its findings completely. He assailed as “shocking” the refusal of Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Albania to cooperate fully with the commission.

At this point Dr Ales Zebler (Yugoslavia) interrupted M. Spaak by shouting: “It is a libel and a calumny.” M. Spaak retorted: “If you say this is slander, then you say the investigators are liars.”

M. Bebler said the UNO Commission was “composed of petty civil servants, who needed money for their families and, therefore, obeyed their Governments.”

Such exchanges are rare in UNO, where it is customary to hear speeches in silence.

The chairman, M. Joseph Beech (Luxembourg) banged his gavel for silence and M. Spaak continued his speech, saying he did not favour the section of the United States resolution finding Greece’s northern neighbours guilty of helping the guerillas.