Evening star., 1949-04-07
Soviet Defends Trials
OF CIerics, Demands
u. n. Keep Hands Off
D. -ts Assuz sotsa Press

AShE SC1A Es1sS. akfA a. g.
Russia today defended the Com
munlst trials OF Josef Cardinal
Mindszenty and other clergymsn
behind the Iron Curtain and de-
manded that the United Nat4d-ns
hands of.
Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister
Jacob A. Mallk opened before the
General Assemoly's l4-natlon
Steering Committee a vigorous at
tempt TO block q Z. N. airing OF
the prosecutions OF churchmen III
Hungary and Bulgaria.
Mr.. Malik said the charter Of
the world organization specifically
forbids outside interference in the
domestic affairs OF nations.
This ought TO be remembered
by those who are won't TO stick
their noses in other peoples back
yards" he said.
Mr.. Malik added:
The Charter does not contem-
plate shielding criminals and
traitors and renegades.
Denounces Clergymen.
He assailed Cardinal Minds
zenty and IS Protestant clergy
men imprisoned in Bulgaria as
'inviters of new war
Their entire calculation. he
said, was based on the idea Of a
new war in which they could car
ry out their aims. They confessed
their crimes"
The Hungarian primate was
convicted in February Of black
market activities. treason and
plotting to overthrow the Com
munist- dominated Hungarian re-
gime. The Protestant group in
Bulgaria was convicted of treason
and other acts against the State
Cardinal Mindszenty is serving a
life sentence.
Mr.. Malik cited a l947 Assembly
resolution against warmongering
and said the Assembly should be
thankful to Hungary and Bulgaria
for catching these criminals.
A majority OF the committee
members, however, were under
stood to favor full discussion OF
the trials. The main issue still to
be decided was the form the ques-
ton would take on the ASsemblys
calendar.
U. 8. Asks Decision.
American Delegate Warren r.
Austin proposed yesterday that the
Assembly consider whether the
trials violated sections of the Hun
garian and Bulgarian peace
treaties guaranteeing respect for
religious freedom.
Australia and Bolivia previously
had submitted proposals that the
Assembly act on the ground that
the trials violated human rights
provisions Of the U. N. Charter.
The U. N. morning program is
confined to the Steering Commit
tee meeting. which also has to
decide whether to recommend
Assembly discussion on Indonesia.
Israel's bid for U. N. membership
and Russia's veto of Ceylon's
membership application.
The Assemblys 58-nation Polit-
ical Committee is slated to meet
at 3 pm. to continue debate on
the disposition Of Italy's prewar
colonies. Bearded Italian Foreign
Minister Count Carlo SforZa was
expected to be on hand to give
the committee Italy's views.
Cyrenaica Asked for Britain.
American Delegate John Foster
Dulles recommended late yester-
day that Libya be placed under
u. N. trusteeship. with Britain ad-
ministering Cyrenaica. He also
suggested that Ethiopia be given
control of Eastern Eritrea, in
cluding the port of Massaua on
the Red Sea and the city Of AS
mara; and that Italy be permitted
to administer Italian Somaliland
under U. N. trusteeship. No spe-
cific American recommendations
were made with respect to other
portions of Eritrea and Libya.
There still was no indication
when Russia would launch her ex-
pected attack on the North Allan
tic pact.
Russia failed yesterday in an
effort to postpone until the next
session of the U. N. Assembly &C
ton on a draft convention on
gathering and transmission Of
news.