UNO DEBATE ON SPAIN

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24905, 19 June 1946, Page 7

UNO DEBATE ON SPAIN

British Move To Amend-Report SUBMISSION TO ASSEMBLY (N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) < R ec- 7 ?■“>■> NEW YORK, June 17. The United Nations Security CounJ ll gave further consideration to tne Spanish question. Senor Castillo Najera (Mexico) took .over the chairmanship from M. Alexander Parodi (France). -Sir Alexander Cadogan, resuming tne aeoate, moved an amendment that the question be submitted to the General Assembly without "recommenda„s.lr. Alexander Cadogan said: Tne British Government wishes to act strictly in accordance with the terms of the Charter and reposes full confidence in the Assembly ” «. Slr £ l E’f a . nder Cadogan added that me British Government gravely doubted the right of the Security Council to interfere in the internal affairs of a nation unless it was clear that such a nation was a direct threat to world peace. The sub-committee s P?in had invoked Chapter VI of the Charter in making recommendations to the Council, but had suggested. that action should be taken under Chapter VII. There were grave doubts about the juridical validity of such a course. The British Government was not indulging in legal quibbling. It simply did not want the Charter itself to be the victim of this dispute. He suggested that the Court of International Justice might be asked for an authoritative juridical opinion. Dr. H. V. Evatt (Australia), who was chairman of the sub-committee on Spam, said the Council could not act .under Chapter 7 of the Charter, which would mean war between Spain and the United Nations, unless the facts warranted it. The committee’s opinion, with some reservations by Poland, was that the facts did not at present warrant recommending the severance of diplomatic relations with the Franco regime. Ur. Evatt said that Sir Alexander Cadogan’s suggestion that the question should be referred to the International Court for an opinion would involve many months* delay if the experience of the Leagpe of Nations was any guide. He declared that the subcommittee had acted within the letter and the spirit of the Charter, Addressing himself directly to Mr Gromyko (Russia), Dr. Evatt said that the veto should be used only on the rarest of occasions. He strongly urged Mr Gromyko nqt to use it just because things did not quite go the way he wished. It had been shown that a majority of the Council favoured the sub-committee’s proposal. Mr Gromyko should be willing to abide by that. Dealing with Sir Alexander Cadogan’s amendment. Dr. Evatt said the Assembly undoubtedly looked to the Council for some kind of guidance in such a case.

M. Parodi called Sir Alexander Cadogan’s legal arguments unsound. He warned that governments not giving freedom to their peoples could exist only by military glory. If civil war occurred in Spain it might be too late for the United Nations to inter-

vene. Senor Najera said he regarded General Franco as an immediate threat to world peace. He disagreed with the view that the Security Council could not take action against the Franco regime. Nevertheless the - subcommittee’s proposal constituted a step forward. Therefore he supported it and would vote against Sir Alexander Cadogan’s amendment.

The Council adjourned the debate until Tuesday.

The sub-committee on Spain, in its report to the Security Council, released on June 2. found that although the activities of the Franco regime in Spain did not constitute an existing threat to peace, they were a potential menace to international security. The report says that because the situation in Spain is not at present a threat to peace and security, the Security Council does not possess jurisdiction to authorise the enforcement of sanction measures, but the situation can be dealt with by the Council under Chapter VI of the Charter, covering measures for peaceful settlement. The sub-committee suggests that the Council refer the Spanish question to the General Assembly with the recommendation that unless the Franco regime is withdrawn and conditions of political freedom are established in Spain the Assembly should urge the severance of diplomatic relations with Spain by all of the United Nations.

The sub-committee recommends endorsement by the Security Council of the principles contained in the declaration off March 4 by Britain, America, and Fiance, which called on Spaniards to remove General Franco by peaceful means and to set up a caretaker Government to rule until free elections were held. It suggests that If these conditions are fulfilled it would be appropriate to consider favourably a Sparfffeh application for membership of the United Nations. The report says that although the Security Council cannot take enforceme/u measures against Spain without straining the intention of the Charter, the subcommittee feels that the matters brought before the Council in relation to Spain are so serious that the Council should not allow them to pass from its notice simply because it could pot take the direction of action proposed by Poland.