Britain Challenges Russia To File Complaint To U.N.O. About The Atlantic Pact

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 April 1949, Page 5

Britain Challenges Russia To File Complaint To U.N.O. About The Atlantic Pact

Showdown Vote Urged; Russian Delegation's Isolation

NEW YORK. April 15 (Ree. 6 pm).—Mr. Hector McNeil (Britain) today e'nallenged Mr. Andrei Gromyko (Russia) to file a formal complaint in tbe United Nations against the North Atlantic Paet so the General Assembly could have a show-down vote on it.

Mr. McNeil, speaking in the Assembly during the debate on proposals to restrict the veto in the Security Council, dealt point by point with the allegations Mr. Gromyko made yesterday against the Pact. Mr. McNeil said Gromyko himself knew the Paet did not provide for military alliances for aggression. “Who for a moment believes Norway has any aggressive design against the Soviet Union?’’ Mr McNeil asked. He accused Mr Gromyko of slandering the British Government ’ Hp said that sc far as Britain was concerned the Anglo-Soviet Treaty was still in effect. Mr Bevin had made continuous efforts to have it extended. “Not only do we not seek to escape from the treaty but we are passionately anxious that the Soviet Union should feel herself bound by it,” he added. Nothing in the United Nations Charter conflicted with the intention of the signatories of the the North Atlantic Pact. It was so patently defensive in character that only those who contemplated aggression had any reason to oppose it. Referring to Mr Gromyko's state-

ment that none of ihe pact signatories had suffered armed attack from Russia, Mr McNeil commented: “That is about the only kind of attack we have not suffered.” Mr McNeil said Gromyko claimed to speak for the common man, but he and other Russian delegates lived in isolation at a Long Island estate instead of mixing with the people as the other delegates did. “I and others believe Mr Gromyko and his colleagues have long been out of touch with the common people.” he said. “I appeal to Mr Gromyko to go to a delicatessen, a bus or subway and listen to what the people have to say about tht) situation from which the pact was born.” Answering Mr Gromyko s assertions the the Russian use of the veto had always been in the interests of the people of the world, Mr McNeil said: “Mr Gromyko trifles with our time and insults our intelligence. His assertion is the most absurd ever offered the Assembly.”

Mr McNeil said the United Nations would grow in strength and become more effective when Russia acknowledged, with all the other great Powers, they were not the possessors of all the wisdom or all the power.”