VOTING PROCEDURE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25852, 24 May 1945, Page 6

VOTING PROCEDURE

WORLD ORGANISATION " BIG THREE ” NEGOTIATIONS SAN FRANCISCO, (Rec. 0.30 a.m.) May 22. The Working Committee meetings of the San Francisco Conference were overshadowed to-day by private negotiations between Britain, America, and Russia to' save the world organisation voting procedure devised at Yalta, says the New York Times correspondent. ■There is no longer any doubt that the small nations have the will and the votes to deny the “ Big Three ” the right to vote for proposals in the new league for the peaceful settlement of small nations’ disputes, nor is there any doubt that this issue is recognised as an important test of voting strength both for the conference and for the world organisation itself. Particular interest developed to-day toward the Latin-Americans whose 20 votes hold the balance of power in the voting controversy. The correspondent adds that the old myth of six British votes has vanished before the spectacle of Australia and New Zealand not only opposing the British attitude, but leading the opposition against it. The “ Big Three ” know they caii count on the Russian bloc for support. They also know they can count on the British bloc for more opposition than support, therefore they are watching the Washington delegation to see what it can do with the Latin-Americans. Australian Amendment

Dr H. V. Evatt expressed the opinion that in the event of a showdown, a vote in the full committee could command sufficient support from the smaller nations to ensure the passage of the Australian amendment removing the “Big Five’’ veto in the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The Associated Press learns authoritatively that the British delegation is attempting to swing the Russian and American delegations towards relaxation of the veto powers. The British have now adopted the view that the veto should not apply to decisions concerning whether, the Security Council can investigate any dispute. However, the British delegation is not hopeful of obtaining Russian and American agreement on dropping the veto on recommendations for a peaceful settlement, as desired by Australia. In the meantime Dr Evatt expressed concern that the Americans are trying to eliminate the “full employment” clause already inserted in the chapter on the economic council. Dr Evatt said the American delegate, Mr Dean Gildersleeve, recommitted this chapter to the sub-committee for the ostensible purpose of changing the section relating to education. Dr Evatt recalled that Australia Was defeated at the conference in Philadelphia through a similar move after the conference had accepted the “ full employment ” principle. Mr P. Fraser told the press that the trusteeship committee defeated an Egyptian amendment placing all league mandates tinder a trusteeship council. Britain, America, and Australia joined in the overwhelming majority against this. Mr Fraser indicated that he favoured the amendment, but refrained from voting because he' was chairman of the committee. He pointed out that the committee’s action left the question of the disposition of mandates'in midair. London Poles Attacked The New York Herald-Tribune’s correspondent says the Polish issue came to the fore again when Mr Dmitry Manuilski, chairman of the Ukrainian delegation, declared that the Ukraine hoped to see a strong and democratic Poland created, but made it clear that she wanted no part of the London Polish Government, which he denounced as a Government based on national oppression. Mr Manuilski said the Ukrainians were interested in an independent Poland carrying on its own national; policy and co-operating in a friendly way with the United Nations, and first of all with its closest neighbours, .the Ukrainian Soviet Republic. They were not interested in the Poland of Pilsudski and Beck, but in a Poland with a parliamentary system of government, with representatives of all anti-Fascist democratic parties. The correspondent says Mr Manuilski’s words were just about the strongest and most specific yet used by any Russian in castigating the London Poles, thereby emphasising the cleavage In this matter between Britain and America on the one hand and Russia on the other.

Mr Manuilski, at a press conference, said that all 16 autonomous republics * in the U.S.S.R. would eventually seek their individual membership in the world security organisation. After persistent questioning on the Polish problem Mr Manuilski finally denounced the inquiries as disruptive of Allied unity. When asked to explain the arrest of the 16 Polish leaders he replied: “I ask American journalists this question: Imagine American troops while liberating France being shot in the back by Fascist agents. Would General Eisenhower tolerate such actions and not take the necessary measures?” "Mr Manuilski is a high Communist Party official and also secretary-general of the Ukrainian Communist Party.