Evening star., 1946-11-17
British SeaIg Reds
For Veto Use, But
Oppose Vote Change
BY the kssoeiuied Press

BY the Associated Press
LAKE SUCCESS. N. Y, Nov, 16.-
Great Britain today leveled a strong
attack against Russia's use of the
veto as preparations went ahead for
a meeting of the Big Five powers
called to try for private agreement
on modification Of the much debated
voting power.
In assailing the Soviet tactics, the
British stood firm with the other
1tour major powers against changing
the Charter as demanded by small
nations, but welcomed a chance to
get the issue temporarily out of the
hands of the General Assembly.
Philip Noel-Baker, British dele
gate, said Russia s Position reminded
him of the mother who said every
body is out Of step but my Johnny"
and then added sharply:
There could have been unanimity
on nearly every occasion If our Soviet
colleague had desired unanimity."
He then asked: What Is unanim-
ity-is it really the right of one to
stop all action by any one with
whom he does not agree?"
France Moves to Drop Debate.
The British delegate spoke before
the United Nations Assembly,s ST.
nation Political Committee after
France moved to suspend the debate
pending the Big Five meeting. Brit
lsh sources reiterated that the ses-
sion would be held. Monday I'M
New York regardless Of action on
the French plan and declared assur.
ances to attend had been received
from all principals, including Soviet
Foreign Minister Molotov.
z These sources said British For
eign Secretary Beyin, Secretary of
State Byrnes, China's wellington
Koo and French Delegate Alexan-
DIRE Parodi were expected to at
tend the meeting along with Mr..
Molotov.
A vote on the French proposal,
which drew no apparent opposition
m the debate, was put of until
Monday when three speakers re-
mained on the list at the end Of
today's committee meeting
Temporary closing of the discus
sion would bring the committee to
the next item-the Russian demand
for report on all troops stationed
on alien soil. Debate on the veto
would be resumed following re-
port on the Big Five meeting.
Levant, Greece Cited.
Mr.. Noel-Baker cited the Levant
and Greek cases, both marked by
Soviet vetoes, as examples of how
the veto should not be used"
In the case of the Levant, he
said a solution came only because
Great Britain and France proceeded
in disregard of the veto and on the
Greek problem he declared the So
Wet veto of an investigation pre-
vented the Security Council from
getting the facts.
The British representative said
that not only the small powers but
-four of those we call great have
expressed anxiety" over the use of
the veto. He added that there was
no foundation for contentious byt
Andrei Y. Vishinsky, deputy Soviet |
foreign minister, that the small ma
tions asking abolition Of the veto
were trying to divide the Big Five. |
In advancing his plan to close |
the debate, Mr.. Parodi lined up with
the other big powers in opposing any
revision Of the Charter but called
for improvement Of the procedure
of voting in the Security Council.
Hope of Accord Raised.
Now all of the five major powers
except Russia have taken the posi-
tion that the Council itself should |
limit the use of the veto to rare and
exceptional cases. = n
The Soviet Union has not indie
ated it's willingness to approve even
notifications and Qualifications, but
Mr.. Molotov's acceptance Of an in
vitation to confer raised hopes that
an eventual agreement might be
reached to satisfy all the 81 nations.
v. K. wellington Koo of China
warned the committee that any
hasty attempt to revise the charter
might undermine the very founda- |
tions of our organization" but
agreed that the use of the veto
should be voluntarily limited by the
exercising members.
Mr.. Koo specifically called for the
Security Council to study its rules
in the light of the vigorous objec-
tions by small nations in the As
sembly and for the Big Five to meet
and clarity their definition of ques-
tions which should or should not
be subject to veto.
The big nations spoke in the
committee after Brig. Gen. Carlos
p. Romulo. Philippines delegate,
bitterly assailed Russia's frequent
use of the veto and said the Council
was now operating under s'one-
nation, one-vote rule" He then
strongly denied charges made yes
terday by Mr. Vishinsky that the
small nations were attempting to
split the big ones by the campaign
for changing the veto.
Gen. Romulo did not limit his
attack to Russia, declaring:
while the Soviet Union has used
the veto most, we know that all of
the Big Five want it and would not
4 IS