Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-01-28

For the first time since the founding Of
the United Nations, the General AsSemblyS Po-
litical Committee has voted in favor Of major
Soviet resolution vigorously opposed by our Gov
eminent. Aimed at carrying through q horse
trading deal on admitting new members into the
U. n, the resolution is expected to be defeated
when final action is taken on 1t. Nevertheless,
in view of the preliminary support accorded it,
the Russians can claim victory Of sorts for
the so-called realism of their proposal as
against American arguments based on principle.
The committee vote-21 for, IL against, and
Is abstaining- must be followed now by deci-
sion in plenary session OF the Assembly. Since
a two-thirds majority of that body is required
for favorable action on admissions, there Is
little or no chance that the Soviet resolution
will be upheld, and even if 1t were upheld, our
representatives would have the veto available to
defeat 1t in the Security Council. However,
despite this prospect the fact remains that many
free nations have plainly indicated that they
regard the American position as too rigid and
that they are inclined to believe that more good
than harm would be accomplished II the menu
bership impasse were ended on the basis OF the
Russian proposal.
In presenting the proposal, the Russians
have hardly bothered to disguise the fact that
it is designed to force the United Nations into
deal that would put principle in escrow They
have quite frankly acknowledged that Nepal,
Ceylon, Jordan, Libya Finland, Austria, Portugal,
Ireland and Italy-whose applications have
Western backing-are eligible for membership
in the u N. But at the same tirne-and this is
their bargaining point-they have made clear
that they will continue to use the veto against
all such applicants unless and until it is agreed
that Albania Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and
Outer Mongolia should be admitted as well In
other words, their resolution-as approved by
the Political Committee-would commit them,
If it were finally adopted, to permit the entry
Of nine non-Soviet states in exchange for the
entry of the Kremlin's five satellites.
At first glance, this may seem to be rea-
sonable quid- pro-quo proposition, numerically
and otherwise. Moreover, 1t has considerable
appeal as an expedient measure designed to
break the deadlock on admitting new members
Yet, at second glance, 1t looks anything but
attractive For of the five satellites sponsored
by the Kremlin tactually, Outer Mongolia is
merely an artificial, make-believe state), Albania
Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary have repeat
eddy shown that they are unit to belong to the
United Nations. They have shown this by
grossly violating every basic tenet of the U. N.
Charter bearing upon human freedom, treaty
obligations and cooperation for peace.
In the circumstances. how can the United
Nations agree to admit these countries and still
maintain its self-respect? True enough, since
the Soviet Union and several of its puppets have
long been members despite their Charter VIOLA
lions, case can be made for the Idea that i've
more entries into that bloc would be no cause
for great moral indignation. The point can be
argued, too that In politics international as
well as domestic expedient action Is sometimes
wiser than infexible adherence TO principle. In
this instance, however, it is dificult to see how
the u. NJ can agree toiehe Russian deal without
seeming TO ofier selfsssultifying reward to EVIL.