Evening star., 1953-03-15
United Nations

r Asst FALL it was the defeat of
IL the Democrats that slowed the
United Nations to a walk and
finally a halt. Last week it was
the death of Stain that slowed
debate. In both instances there
was reluctance on the part Of
delegates to discuss important
issues just when an unknown
quantity was ascending to power
in key nation.
1t all added up to pretty fruit
less Seventh General Assembly to
date.
Debate on Korea, No. l on the
agenda this session, was allowed
to peter out last week. No coun-
try had a new proposal to offer.
The General Assembly, over Com
muniSt protests, had accepted the
Indian peace plan last fall. This
time it presumably was Russias
turn to propose settlement. But
none was forthcoming. Vishinsky
stuck to the old Communist de-
rnand of forced repatriation of
prisoners. The West stood by the
Indian proposal of voluntary re-
patriation.
After Stain died, it was obvious
that it would be best to wait for
the new Russian. regime to make
its position clear. So item one was
laid aside.
Chonee for Propaganda
But Britain and the United
States got in few propaganda
licks before the General Assembly
turned to item two. The diff
ferent approach of the two coun-
tries to the EaSt-WeSt conflict
neatly illustrated two ways Of
going about the war of words.
Chief American Delegate Lodge,
in short, sharp speech, told the
Communists that Russia had lost
the respect of the world because
of Soviet aggreSSion-aggreSsion
which came from fear of your
own people, fear that stems from
the tyranny which you impose on
the Soviet people"
Britain'S Foreign Secretary Eden
said in softer tones: II am con-
vinced that with the growing
strength and authority of the
West, and with common prudence
on the part of both the free and
Communist worlds, there is no
reason why (World War IT'D
should break out"
The two speeches were aimed at
the neutrals and the heSitaters in
the cold war Which approach
was the better-or whether the
speeches complemented each other
was a matter for argument.
'Eomest Appeal
Next on the General Assembly
agenda was complaint by Greece
that the Soviet bloc was illegally
holding 5000 Greek soldiers who
had been captured by Communist
forces during the Greek civil war
after World War II. Greece de-
manded the return of her soldiers.
Russia replied that the men we're
political refugees who had been
given asylum. None would be re-
turned. This stand, of course,
went directly against the "immuta-
BILE principles" laid down by Rus
sia in debate over repatriation of
Korean prisoners of war. On that
occasion Russia had insisted that
all prisoners should be returned,
by force if necessary. The non
Communist nations agreed then
that repatriation should be VOL
untary.
The U. N. disposed of the prob
lem by voting 54-5, with the So
Wet bloc in the minority and In
dia abStaining, to send an earnest
appeal" to Russia to permit return
of all Greek soldiers who desired
to go home.
Collective Measures
Item three was report on its
activities by the Collective Meas
ures Committee. In case of ag-
gression, the committee would CO.
ordinate efforts short of war to
discourage the aggressor. The
question before the United Nations
is this: Should the Collective Sc
curity Committee be retained or
should it be abolished for over
(see REVIEW, Page A-29)