The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1946. PROBLEMS FOR U.N.O.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 38, 25 January 1946, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1946. PROBLEMS FOR U.N.O.

STRAIGHT-TALKING appears to be the keynote of the proceedings at the epoch-making initial sitting of U.N.O. in London. Following the blunt observations of our own Prime Minister, it is not surprising to note the cue taken up by Russia and the Ukraine,, in demanding investigation of the presence of British troops in both Greece and Indonesia. The forthright demand by the Soviet States, came in the nature of a bombshell to the assembly following the negative attitude taken up by the same delegates during the two preceding days, and there appears to be little doubt as to its intention to discomfort Britain before the assembled nations. We say this for two reasons—(l) the coincident outpouring of bitter criticism of Britain by the: Moscow radio, (2) the pending settlement of the tense situation in Iran where the U.S.S.R. appears to have unmistakably adopted the role of aggressor. Neutral observ-t ers appear to be united on the implication of the second point, for the latest representations appear to be nothing more than a substantial Russian herring across the scent. England under a Labour Government can scarcely be accused of provoking fresh trouble in countries so lately freed from the hands of the oppressors. A Labour Cabinet at Home can have little other interest than the maintenance of law and order in lands where the aftermath of war has brought about a condition of complete chaos. It would be folly to leave such peoples to drift into a sate of anarchy following a victory of the forces of law and order. But the greatest point is that the British and Empire troops are only present in the two countries cited by specific invitation on the part of the Governments concerned. They will remain there just as long as it takes to create a properly constituted Government based on the. democratic conception of fair and fearless voting by the people as a whole.