Rejection of Soviet Motion

Chronicle (Levin), 29 March 1946, Page 5

Rejection of Soviet Motion

Press Assn.-

SECURITY COCNCIL TO HEAR PERSIAN COMPLAINT

By Telegraph

-Copyright

Reeeived Thursday, 14.10 p.m. Ng.W YOJtg, March 28. Vjhen the Security Council met yesterday the Russian motion for ' 'postponement of the Person questjpji uptil April 10 wq,s defeated. It reeeived only two affirmatiye yptes, these being from Russia and Poiand. Mr. Gromyko, the Russian deiegate, told the Council that since Russia could no longer participate in fhe ipeeting he would leavp. Mr. Gromyko and his staff walked out when it became apparept that the Council intended to vote to call Persia to state her com- ; plaints against Russia.

On the meeting opening, the Council 's suh-committee, which was pppointed to hnd a compromise formula. announced that no agreement had heen reached. The president (Dr. Qao Taichi) announced that, as the suh-committee had failed to reach an agreement, the meeting was consequently in the same position as when it adjonrntd yesterday. It added that if there was no further discussion the various proposals would he voted on. Dr. Quo Taichi ruled that the motions should be put in the 1'ollowing order: — (1) Russia 's, for a postponement until April 10. (2) Egypt's, that Persia he allowed to mahe an oral statement to the Council. (0) Australia's for a written report only. Mr. Gromyko (Russia) told the Council that Russia insisted 011 a postponement until April 10. He reiterated his assertion of yesterday that accord haa been reached for the withdrawal of tne Soviet trccps from Persia. He assertea that the Persia 11 Prime Minister (Mr. Ghavam Sultaneh) was not opposed to a postponement nntil April 10. Mr. Byra.es (United States) told the Council that the American Government deemed it of vital importance to the future oi United Nations that the Persian case receive an immediate hearing. Mr. Byrnes urged that the Egyptian motion he giveu priority. POSITION MISREPRESENTED. Mr. Byrnes said that Mr. Gromyko 's assertion that Mr. Sultaneh had said that accoid existed hetwoen Persia and Russia for the remcval of the Russian occupation forces was hased on a misrepresentation of an Associated Press despatcli from Teheran. Mr. Byrnes deelared that, if Persia were not given a chance to he heara, United Nations would die in its infancy. Mr. Byrnes told the Council that the United States Government had reeeived mformation frem its oiiicial representative at Teheran that there was 110 agreement betwean Russia and Persia. Certain proposals had bcen made hut these had not heen accepted. Mr. Gromyko insisted that there was at ieast understanding Letween Moscow and. Teheran 011 the withdrawal oi the troops. He deelared that negotiations were still in progress which Russia did not (want interefered with. Mr. Gromyko notilied the Council that Russia would not discuss the Persian case hefore April 10. Oue of the things that caused the most comment among the excited delegates to the Security Council was the manner of Mr. Gromyko 's ctelivery. He sat quietly while M. Bonnet spoke on the Egyptian motion and then slowly stated in Russian that he was no longer able to participate and would, therefore, leave the meeting. He waitoa until his remarks were translated into Prench and Euglisli, then arose, jerked 0 ti his shell-riimned spectacles, and foilowed by his aides, walked to the rear of the charnber past the silent, impassive members and out of the door. Mr. Gromyko, hatiess, pushed his way through the throng outside the charnber and told reporters tnat he had norliing to say. Mariue guards and police upeued a way xor him to his iimousine. Dr. Quo Taichi, before calling for a vote on the Egyptian mction that Mr. Ala (the Fenian Ambassador) be heard, said the Council slionld note that it now had only ten members. Eight voted to hear Mr. Ala. "Australia and Poiand voted no. Mr. Ala was then invited to the Council table. Dr. Quo Taichi announced that the Council would adjcurn till tomorrow, but Mr. Byrnes asked that Mr. Ala be giveu a chance to present his views on postponemeiic.

CONFIDENCE IN UNO. Mr. Ala deelared that Persia had faith in United Nations and confidqntly expected to liave her rights upheld by tlie Council. Persia wanted her case to remain before the Council until a just settlement was reached. He said his Government wanted to press the case at the earliest possible moment. He knew of 110 agreement — secret or otherwise— betwee p'Eussia and Persia. Mr. Ala began to read a report hrief.ly reviewing the recent visit of tne Persian Prime Minister (Mr. Sultaneh) to Moscow, where he unsuccessfuiiy asked for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Persia. Mr. Ala said that Russia demanded that Persia agree tp establish a Russian-Persian oil cqmpgny, with Russia liolding 51 per cent pf the stock. Mr. Byrnes asked that Mr. Ala's statement he confined to the issue of postponment and requested him to answer the question, "Dp yQU havp authority to accept a postponement'/ What are the dangers in the situation that prcvent postponement?" Mr. Ala replied: "Soviet troops are still in Persia and Persia has no assurances that the troops will he rpmovea by the given date. Persia is suffering from intervention in its interna! aifairs, hecause of the presence of Soviei; ofliciafc and armed forces. Such a situ-

atipn is pxplosive, and delay in settlement of tliis dispute is a threat tp world ppacp." He asserted that Persia would not j agree to p.qstppnemppt until Russia gave the Council assurauces that the Red ! Army would he witliprawn hy a deflnite ! date withouf regard to unfpreseen cir- : curnstancps. CGUNCIL ADJOURNS. The Cpuncil adjourned till today, when it wiil sit as a committee in executive session. One memher said the next open meeH ing would probahly he on Friday. It is not known how long the Russians will he absent, but it is recalled that IVlr. (j-romykq warned that Russia was unahle to discuss the Persian case hefore April 10. The Bolish deiegate later stated that Russia had not witlidrawn from the CqvmciJ. A Soviet delegation spokesman said the Russians would attend the tive session today upon the understanding that only procedural matter and not the Persian question 'syill he disc -~sed. The UNO Military Staff Committee he]d a clqsed iqijs* — n},egting at whicn navy, army and air force representatives from Britain, Ampripa, Russia, France and China pqn'ferred for two hours. N 0 report was issued, hut it was learned informally that the staff's are getting along well together and are anxious to proGeed slowly and carefully with the task of organising an international police force.