Evening star., 1946-02-08
Fight Over UN0 Site
Cenfers on frances
Plan 10 Delay Choice
By the Associated Press,

NH ~ DShu NHVlSV
By the Associated Press.
LONDON, Feb. ga French
proposal that the United Ma
tions delay until next September
the selection of permanent head
quarters in the United States
appeared today to have become
a central issue in the fight over
whether the headquarters should
be placed in or near New York
at all.
Senator Vandenberg, one Of the
American delegates, declared last
night that he considered fantastic
the idea that the United Nations
needed anything like As square
miles OF the high priced area" pro-
posed on the New York Connecticut
border.
Led by France, anti-New York
forces took the Vandenberg state
ment as rallying point. When the
General Assembly's Site Committee
adjourned today until 2::30 pm
tomorrow, votes were lining up
steadily on both sides.
Outcome Highly Uncertain.
Some members of the American
delegation, which sought to main
tain its formal stand of neutrality
on me site issue, said the outcome
at the moment was highly uncer-
tain.
A reliable source said American
experts had reported the French
proposal to defer the final choice
of a site until the September meet
ing Of the Assembly stood a good
chance to win out If Britain and
Russia could tack on an amend
ment still restricting the eventual
selection to the Northeastern part
Of the United States.
France suggested that Secretary
General Trygve Lie be authorized
TO choose temporary quarters in
some city where temporary facil-
tiles were offered, pending a deci-
sion on the permanent home.
Supporters of French.
Supporting the French proposal
at least in calling for delay in
choosing the permanent site were
Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Chile,
Egypt, Iraq, Poland and Syria.
Brazil, Canada, Uruguay, Yugo-
slavia and Venezuela have lined up
with Britain, China and Russia for
the recommendations of the Inspec-
ton Committee.
DR.. Stoyan Gavrilovic of Yugo-
slavia, who headed the Inspection
Committee, told the Assembly's Site
Committee that any delay would
give rise to intense agitation" in
the United States, with groups from
various cities campaigning for the
choice all over again.
The Steering Committee formally
recommended that the next As
sembly session open in the United
States September 9. This still has to
be acted on by the Assembly.
The Steering Committee also Gre
sted special group to advise Mr.
Lie on negotiations between the
United Nations and the United
States for settling down the organi-
zation in this country.
Statement by Vandenberg.
Huntington Gilchrist, member of
the American delegation. insisted
that the position of the United
States in the dispute always has
been and will continue to be one of
neutrality"
The Australian delegate, w. r.
Hodgson, however, said a leading
American delegate earlier in the day
had abandoned his neutrality"
He was referring to the statement
by Senator Vandenberg in the Ad-
n1inistrative and Budgetary Com
mittee.
Senator Vandenberg told the COM
nittee the United Nations head
quarters should not be larger than
a comfortable college campus.
100000 Cost Cited.
Referring to proposals to spend
$4,000, 900 on land and buildings,
he added that "the United Nations
should show it's worth through
deeds and not through money. Let
us not mistake pomp for power"
Senator Vandenburg said he did
not mean to judge the site recon-
mended by the Headquarters Com
mittee from the standpoint of its
geographical fitness, but he recon-
mended that the expenses entailed
be studied carefully so that the less
wealthy countries would be able to
pay their shares.
The Senator spoke shortly before
the Budgetary Committee approved
a 1916 budget which was reduced
from $25 100, 900 to $21 100000.