Evening star., 1946-11-10
U.N. Delegates Worry
On Subject Of Getting
Home by Christmas
By Harold Brown
North American Newspaper AlIione,

North American Aewislpoipet AlIiones
LAKE SUCCESS, N. N.,ANov. g.
Many delegates to the United Ma
tions General Assembly were begin
ming to worry today whether they
would be home for Christmas, in
view of the general conviction that
this session has moved at a snail's
pace.
The Assembly session, after hav-
ing been delayed twice, was sched-
uled to last slightly more than six
weeks and end on or about Deem
ber 7.
The Assembly's slow progress, es-
pecially in its committee stage, is
said here to be mostly the result of
long discussion Of minor matters
and the constant addition of items.
Controversial Items Pending.
Observers point out that not one
of the questions considered to be
highly controversial has been con-
sidered yet by the six committees.
There has been no discussion in
the appropriate committees of Spain,
the Australian and Cuban antiveto
proposals, the Russian request for
information on troops in nonenemy
states or the new states which will
be elected to the Security Council.
Some delegates say the Canadian
proposal to limit the time of speak
ers in the Assembly probably has
gained number of supporters since
the Assembly's opening on October
%. Many delegates already have
spoken out in open meetings against
waste of the Assembly's time.
Mrs. Roosevelt Adds Voice.
Sir Carl Berendsen, chief delegate
OF New Zealand, declared in the
General Committee that there would
have to be some end to placing new
items on the Assembly's agenda
after the Assembly was well along
In its session. He was referring to
a proposal by the delegate from
Lebanon for the translation Of the
classics, which was the occasion of
more than two hours debate that
day.
Mrs. Roosevelt Joins Debate.
Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt added her
voice to the general disapproval of
time consuming debates when she
declared on Wednesday,:
THE 1irst speech of the general
debate on the question of the In
ternational Refugee Organization in
Committee 3 by the Russian dele
gate took over an hour. This, with
the two translations which followed,
consumed an entire session. Much
of the material discussed does not
bear on the formation Of the Inter
national Refugee Organization, but
on aspects of UNRRA administra-
ton and military activities.
'Tt is clear, however, that a situ-
alton which is becoming familiar to
us all exists again. Representatives
of the U. S. S. r. have taken part
in drafting the report now under |
consideration. They have won many
concessions to obtain their co-opera-
ton. They evidently are ignoring
all former discussions and begin
ming again. This is time consuming
and does not indicate spirit Of
compromise"
Hope for Final Burst Of Speed.
The delegate from Iraq also op-
posed the lack of speed of U. N. ne
gotiations when he warned the |
Headquarters Commission against
drawing out its selection of a per-
manent U. N. site for one Or two
years.
"It seems" he said, "that every
time we meet there is new pro-
posal."
Some quarters, however, were
hopeful that the Assembly would
dispose of the important points on
the agenda in a final burst of speed,
so as to, finish near the appointed
time.
Hoping to reach their homes by
Christmas, many members OF the
British delegation, it was learned,
have booked space on the Queen
Elizabeth, sailing from New York
December IA; but the authority for
this report added that they were
praying" for the session to be end
ed by then.
Other delegations, such as the
American, which has an extension
clause in the lease for its Offices in
the Hotel Pennsylvania, were less
sanp1Iire.