Don't Represent Barbarous N.Z. Tribe'

Northern Advocate, 6 August 1949, Page 5

Don't Represent Barbarous N.Z. Tribe'

RUSSIAN U.N. DELEGATE SHOUTS

GENEVA, Fri. (11 a.m.). —“I am the representative of a sovereign state—not of a barbarous tribe in some primitive part of New Zealand,” Russian delegate Amazask Arutiunian shouted at Mr James Thorn, New Zealand president of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. He said Mr Thorn's handling of the session was “practically political blackmail,” The remarks came at the climax to a' heated 10-minute exchange between M. Arutiunian, economic chief of the Soviet Foi eign Office, and Mr Thorn, who is New Zealand High Coromissioner to Canada.

M. Arutiunian had accused Mr Corley Smith, British delegate, of “slanders and lies” in connection with the British argument that forced labour existed in the Soviet Union. “Terms such as slander and lies should not be used,” said Mr Thorn. “I do not believe there are any liars and slanderers here. “I am interested n the reputation of this Council and I intend to see that the debate is conducted in proper language." M. Aruntiunian w;as then invited to continue his speech and said: “I have the right, to speak without your permission.” He then made his remark about being the representative of a sovereign state and not of a barbarous New Zealand tribe. Mr Thorn again intervened, but M. Arutiunian shouted in English, a language he speaks well, but seldom uses in t,hc conference, "Will you let me finish? Four method of conducting this session is practically political blackmail.”

Reverting to Russian' and temporarily disorganising the simultaneous translation system, he continued: “The British delegation is conducting a campaign hostile to the Soviet Union.” He then began a speech which lasted an hour and threequarters. A United States resolution calling for the establishment of a commission to investigate slave labour charges against certain countries, principally Russia, was later defeated. The Council voted 10—5, with Russia, Byelo-Russia and Poland abstaining in favour of an amendment ask-, ing the United Nations to seek further information from Governments to find out whether they would permit such an inquiry Before deciding to find out whether the Governments would permit an inquiry into slave labour charges, the council rejected a Russian resolution for an investigating commission consisting of 100 Communist and nonCommunist trade unionists. Opponents of the motion said it would take 10 years for such a commission to do the job.