Evening star., 1948-06-04

September a may be an American. If worst
comes to the worst, he will be q member Of
our delegation to the United Nations General
Assembly who has to get up when the session
opens and make little speech running some
thing like this:
About three years ago, my Government In
vited the United Nations to set up its head
quarters in the United States, and you all
accepted the invitation. Later, my Government
also offered to lend you the money you needed
to build your headquarters In New York. You
accepted that offer, too.
1--WE made the offer in good faith, because
we spend dollars in billions these days for all
sorts Of purposes and we thought we certainly
could spare the U. N. loan of SOS, 600, 900.
But am sorry to report to you that we have
not been able to provide this money. Congress
just didn't get around to acting on it.
Sorry :"
That day, if it comes will be black one
for us and for the U. N, all the more so be-
cause Of the relative insignifcance Of the sum
involved. For it will mean that we serve notice
on the world. in the bluntest possible terms.
that we have abandoned hope for the future
OF the U. Nan institution which we repeat
edly have called the cornerstone of our foreign
policy.
v. N. WAS lQpOI tdIlt cuOuBu W OOliLl ~.
Rockefeller to warrant his giving it $500 900
worth of centrally located New York land,
between Forty-second and Forty eighth streets
on the East River an ideal location for head
quarters of the world organization. New York
City thought enough of it to agree to spend
$4,000 900 improving the site-buildng traf
fic diversion tunnel under it, widening First
avenue, renovating the East River drive and
a ooho
But Doubt Assails Us Now.
Now, however, it is matter of considerable
doubt whether this Congress thinks highly
enough of u N. prospects to advance the small
and thoroughly sound mortgage loan required
by the international organization to house
itself here.
Even If a majority favors it, the danger re-
mains that u N loan legislation will get lost
in the last-minute shuttle as Congress drives
to its June 10 adjournment date. 1t is the
kind of measure likely to get lost. Already it
has been tucked into package" bill to
strengthen the United Nations and promote
international cooperation for peace" This
bill was introduced yesterday by Chairman
Eaton of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
which is expected to report 1t to the House i'm
mediately.
Quite naturally all the emphasis now Is
on the bills grander objectives-seeing what
can be done about abolishing the veto, direct
ing the Presidents attention to the possibility
Of our entering a regional agreement with
Western Europe, and so on. These are big
and exciting prospects But failure by Con-
gress to approve the loan provision would be
a more serious kick in the teeth to U. N. than
would rejection of all the rest OF the bill put
together.
Mr. Eaton and Representative Vorys, Re-
publican committee member from Ohio, told re-
porters yesterday they thought the U. N loan
had at least as good chance of getting through
this Congress in the new omnibus bill as it
would have had by itself. They were not too
sure, however, how good that chance was.
Hope springs eternal in the human breast"
Mr.. Vorys said. you are as cognizant of the
situation up here these days as we are"
What the Loan Would Do.
The loan in question is what U. N. needs to
provide itself with headquarters worthy OF
the dignity of the organization, but by no
means extravagant. The plan calls for hall
for the General Assembly, with space for 70
delegations 1900 spectators, the press and
necessary staff workers. Another building would
house U. MS three councils, with room on the
side for other conference and committee cham