Speculation On Thant’s Future

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 17

Speculation On Thant’s Future

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, July 25. U Thant left New York yesterday on his way to Moscow for talks with Soviet leaders which many in America believe will be a major factor in his final decision whether to continue as the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

His present term expires on November 3, and he has promised to announce by the end of August whether he will seek re-election for another five years. He has’ already made it clear that his inclination is to say no. But he is under great pressure from many member States, including all the Western Powers, to stay on.

The Soviet Government so far has withheld public endorsement of U Thant for a second term. But Soviet diplomats at the United Nations have given strong indications privately that Moscow has no wish to become involved in a search for a new secretarygeneral at this critical juncture in world affairs.

Many diplomats still fear U Thant will decline re-elec-tion. In this case, the United Nations will face a crisis as serious as that which occurred after the death of Mr Dag Hammarskjold in an air crash in 1961—the tragedy that led to the election of the Burmese diplomat U Thant as the secretary-general. There is no immediately obvious choice for the office — which carries a salary of 75,000 dollars—if U Thant says he will not carry on. The Vietnam problem is expected to influence U Thant’s decision on his future. He remains grieved and deeply disappointed by his failure to prevail upon the adversaries to negotiate a solution.