Evening star., 1946-03-31

has been working on rules of pro-
cedure for the Council, held two
meetings today. Some progress has
been made, and partial report is
expected soon, perhaps Tuesday OF
Wednesday. The committee has an
enormous task and it may take some
time to develop a complete set OF
rules for Council procedure-and
the rules undoubtedly will be further
established through precedents as
the Council continues it's work.
The Council scored two impor-
tant victories in this weeks battle
for principle. 1t also met a harsh
rebuff-temporary, it is hoped
from Russia.
Victories for Principle.
The victories for principle were
Cd definite disclosure that the Coun-
Gil is not to be intimidated-as
shown by its refusal to submit to a
threat of withdrawal by Russia be-
cause that country could not have
its way and delay consideration of
the 1ranian complaint against the
Soviet government until April 10:
CD equally definite establishment of
the right of small nations to be
heard, even at the inconvenience of
and over the opposition of a great
power
No attempt is made in Council
circles to minimize the seriousness
Of Russia's "walkout" when the
Council voted to 60 ahead with the
1ranian complaint. The situation,
it was said, is still ticklish. It could
easily be aggravated by Moscow's re-
fusal to. send the information re-
quested by the Council.
Such lack of cooperation would
60 far toward isolating Russia, with
the great bulk of the other members S
OF the United Nations in an opposite
camp. Should this occur, however
Russia would be in no position to
claim that the rest of the world had
ganged up against, her, since the
initial, homeopathic move was
made by the Russian representative
Speculation tonight ran almost
entirely over what kind of reply
ii aany-Moscow would make to
the direct appeal of the Council.
Way Opened for Russia.
Members of the Council felt, how
ever, that the way had been opened
for Russia to heal in large part the
breach which she had made in the
solidity of the UNO. They argued
that the action of the Council in
voting unanimously-with Russia
excepted-to request the necessary
information on which the Council
could base its future course left the
Soviet government a graceful way
out of the situation.
Further, it was argued the Council
had become a forum, at which
international disputes threatening
peace could be discussed, forum
which is calculated to have def
mite effect on world opinion. 1t en-
phasizes the moral force of the
United Nations Organization, a
force with which nations will more
and more have to reckon,
Trygve Lie, secretary general of
the United Nations, moved quickly
to carry out the instructions of
the Council The requests for in
formation, couched in almost the
same language used by Secretary
Byrnes when he proposed the plan
to the Council, were in the hands
Of representative of the Soviet
government and Iran, ready for
transmission, before pm. yester-
day, not much more than an hour
after the Council session had ad-
journed.
1t is true that the Russians are
getting a delay of the actual be-
ginning of hearing on the merits
of the Iranian complaint. But at
the same time the spotlight of
world opinion has been trained on
Moscow. and it may have some
effect. Russia may be a little un-
happy in her self-exilement.
Iran Reply Expected.
Whatever Russia may do, it is
fully expected that Prime Minister
Qavam OF Iran will reply to the
Councils request for information.
The nature of the reply is still a
matter of doubt. Qavam, under the
immediate guns Of Russia, has
blown hot and cold at various
times. His representative, Ambas-
sador Hussein Ala, however, has
not hesitated to state case against
Russia, whose failure to remove
her troops from Iranian soil in
accordance with a treaty signed
by Russia, Britain and Iran in 1912,
Is at the bottom of the present
complaint.
Much credit is given Secretary
Byrnes for the firmness he has
shown in speaking for the United
States in the Council. He led the