Assembly Rejects Soviet Demands

Northern Advocate, 25 September 1948, Page 5

Assembly Rejects Soviet Demands

PARIS. Fri. (11 a.m.)—When the United Nations General Assembly resumed this afternoon Dr Evatt said no delegations had asked to speak at the afternoon session. He suspended the general debate until tomorrow morning and called delegates to discuss the provisional agenda for the assembly submitted by the Sterling Committee. The Soviet delegate (M. Malik) immediately demanded that the Assembly eliminate from the agenda: (1) Argentina’s demand that Italy, Ceylon, Eire, Portugal, Austria, Finland and Transjordan, who were vetoed in the Security Council by Russia, should be admitted by the Assembly.

(2) The problem of Korean independence. (3) Threats to Greece’s independence.

(4) “Little Assembly” proposals to limit use of the veto.

“DIRE CONSEQUENCES”

Despite M. Malik’s warning that “dire consequences” might result if the United Nations discussed these items, the Assembly rejected all the Russian demands.

M. Malik, referring to the Chilean accusation that Russia had violated fundamental rights by refusing a permit to allow Russian wives to join their husbands abroad, declared this was “unwarranted interference in the Soviet’s domestic affairs.

“The Soviet prevents Russians from marrying foreigners to protect them from calumny, and lies against Russia in certain foreign quarters,” hosaid. The Assembly decided to retain Chile’s accusation on the agenda. TWO INDIAN QUESTIONS

Delegates adopted the remainder of the agenda without opposition, with the exception of India’s complaint over the South African treatment of Indian nationals. This was held for further discussion when the South African delegate announced that he would oppose its inclusion. Hyderabad’s complaint against India will be considered by the Security Council next week despite the Nizam’s telegram withdrawing the appeal. The Security Council may then drop the whole matter or follow the precedent established when Persia made a complaint against Russia in 1946.

Then the Council adopted the attitude that, even when a country withdraws a complaint, it can only be deleted when the Council *is fully satisfied that the situation warrants it.