Evening star., 1947-08-22
Russians Under Fire
For Persistent Use
OF Veto in Council
BY the Associated Press

LAKE SUCCESS, Aug. o.
Russia was under fire from sew
eral quarters today for persist
emily using the veto. to upset
majority decisions in the United
Nations Security Council.
In the wake of angry outcries pro-
voked by seven Russian vetoes this
week. Argentina moved swiftly to
seek abolition of the big power veto
privilege by submitting resolution
for consideration of the General
Assembly when it meets in New York
September Is.
The Argentine government asked
that the Assembly call a general
conference of all the United Nations
three days after the 55-nation body
concludes its forthcoming session in
order to revise the veto section of
the U. N. Charter.
Argentina previously had asked
the Assembly to consider calling
such a conference, but had not Sug-
gested specific date.
Under Article 109 of the U. N.
Charter a general conference of the
members of the United Nations for
the purpose of reviewing the present
document may be held at date and
place to be fixed by a two-thirds
majority of the General Assembly
and by a vote of any seven members
of the Security Council.
Veto Could Prevent Change.
But any alteration of the Charter
recommended by two-thirds vote
of the conference cannot take effect
until ratified by two-thirds of the
member states Of the United Ma
tions. including all the permanent
members of the Security Council.
Thus any one of the Big Five
could Use the veto to prevent alb
clifton of the veto. In view Of this
fact observers agreed that the small
powers. who have been fighting un-
successfully for two years to restrict
the veto, could hope for nothing
more than an Assembly resolution
urging the Big Five to use the veto
only in extreme cases.
Most delegates here said they be-
Iieved that even if the majority
agreed to abolish the veto Russia
would block the move. But they
said an airing of the veto clause
might have some effect on Russian
use of the privilege in the future.
One of the sharpest criticisms OF
Russias use of the veto to block a
majority opinion came yesterday
from Council President Faris el
Khoury In announcing Russias S
veto of Italy's application for U. N.
membership he declared that the
Soviet Union had constructed
Council action.
Abuse of Veto Charged.
Deputy American Delegate Her
echel v. Johnson told the Council
that Russia in vetoing the Italian
U, N. application had committed an
abuse of the Big Five power.
In casting negative votes yester-
day, Russia vetoed the aspirations of
Austria as we'll as Italy for member
ship In the United Nations. The
two vetoes ran her total string to ID.
Even as the discussion on Italy
was proceeding, Argentina asked the
forthcoming Assembly to revise the
italian peace treaty. Later, six
other Latin American countries an
nounced their support Of the Argen-
tine proposal, which was submitted
for inclusion in the Assembly's sup
Elementary agenda. 49,.
Amid these developments, the
Council was. called into session at
1890 am. (EDT) to resume dis
cussion of the Dutch-Indonesian
conflict. Another session was sched-
uled for pm. (EDT) to continue
debate on the Egyptian case against
Britain over troop withdrawal and
the Sudan.
Gromyko Bars u. S. Resolution.
After Soviet Deputy Foreign Mini
ster Andrei A. Gromyko had turned
thumbs down on italy and Austria,
the Council was asked to vote on
an American resolutio which would
have granted the General Assembly
the right to admit any of the re-
iected Nations by q two-third vote,
But Mr.. Gromyko objected.
Mr.. johnson then said he was
withdrawing his proposal In view
of Mr.. Gromyko's opposition.
There is no use going through
the motions when one permanent
member won't accept it, Mr.. john
son declared.
Some delegates said that in view
of Russias use of the veto steps
NAV be taken in the future to by
pass the Security Council and take
the controversial problems straight
to the Assembly.
They said that more and more
countries may follow up the example
set by the United States, which
this week asked the Assembly to
take up the Balkan problem after
Russia had repeatedly killed Secur-
1ty Council attempt to solve the
case.