Evening star., 1950-11-04
Mr.. Lies Extended Term

In deciding to retain Trygve Lie as Secretary
General Of the United Nations for an additional
three years, the overwhelming majority of the
General Assembly has delivered another rebuke
to the men of the Kremlin. In effect, 1t has
served notice on them that the U. N refuses
to be paralyzed by their veto and bullying tactics.
couple of weeks ago, when nine members
of the eleven-n nation Security Council voted in
favor of recommending Mr. Lies reappointment
"a vote on which Nationalist China abstained
the Soviet Union vetoed the proposal. 1t did
20 primarily because of his swift and vigorous
action against the Communist aggression in
Korea-action which led Moscow's propagandists
to brand him as "tool Of Wall Street" and
a "stooge" of American "imperialists" In other
words, by thus vetoing him out of office, the
Kremlin hoped to strike back indirectly at the
u. MS Korean decisions, discrediting them by
means of ousting one of their key formulators.
The Councils other members, however, de-
clined to be frustrated in this manner Led
by the United States, they carried the issue to
the General Assembly Through Foreign Min
lister Vishinsky, the Soviet Union argued that
the Assembly could do nothing about the matter
Cd because Article 81 of the Charter declares
that the post is to be filled on the basis of a
recommendation by the Council, and (2) because
the Council could not agree on a recommended
ton, the Russian mo" having made one i'm
possible. But the majority, still insisting on
Mr.. Lies reappointment, held that Article 81
was broad enough to permit the Assembly to
extend his term to avoid the kind of impasse
that MIR. Vishinsky had sought to create-an
impasse that would have left the u N. without
a9directing head next February when MIR. Lies
original hve-year term expires.
This latter argument has now carried the
day. Despite the bitter opposition Of the Rus
slams, and despite Mr. Vishinsky's bulldozing
threat that the Soviet Union will boycott Mr..
Lie during the three-year extension Of his term,
the General Assembly has voted 46 to to keep
the Secretary General in Office. In doing so,
it has done more than express its confidence
in Mr. Lies impartiality. It has also given
further Endorsement to both his own and the
U. MS role in the Korean crisis. Above all, 1t
has made clear to the Kremlin that the veto
cannot be used to deprive the United Nations
of the right to choose its top administrative
agent, whose work is essential to the smooth
functioning of the world organization.
What remains to be seen is whether the
Soviet Union will really boycott the Secretary
General after his present term ends. Even the
Russians may find that difficult thing to do
for lot of important business must be trans
acted through him. Since his reappointment
Mr. Lie has been a guest at one of Mr.. Vishin.
sky's parties, and Mr.. Vishinsky has treated hin
affably. That suggests that the Kremlin may
yet back away from its boycotting threat. II
any case, the General Assembly has done 6
good days work in asserting itself most EN-
phatically on this matter.
Nothing dates a remark like the modesty
Of the figures therein-like Mr. Pinckney'
Millions For Defense"