BRITAIN UPHELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26078, 15 February 1946, Page 5

BRITAIN UPHELD

AMENDMENT LOST INDONESIAN DEBATE (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 14. “The whole honour of fhe British Government in the conduct of this business of Indonesia is involved,” said Mr Bevin, speaking to Mr Vyshinsky’s amendment before the Security Council. “We cannot accept the implication that we attacked the Indonesian Nationalist movement. We never have, nor are likely to. I think this (the Russian amendment) is the most unfriendly thing to be put up against the conduct of the British troops in this delicate and difficult operation. If other Governments represented here ask to be trusted, I ask that the British Government be trusted in carrying out these duties.” He added that any suggestion that Britain had done anything else than what it had been asked to do would “meet not only with resentment, but also stubborn opposition.” The amendment on Indonesia was lost. Only Russia and Poland voted for it. Mr N. J. Makin ruled when the discussion was resumed to-night that Egypt’s proposal was substantially a new one, and he therefore ruled it out as an amendment to the Ukrainian proposal. The voting then followed, and when Mr Makin declared the resolution was lost. Mr Vyshinsky proposed an amendment that a commission should be sent to Indonesia comprising representatives of Britain, Russia, China, America, and the Netherlands to “ clarify the existing situation and to contribute to the reestablishment of normal conditions.”