Evening star., 1962-09-26
Russia Sparks
u. N. Tactical
Fiuht on Berlin
BY WILLIAM r. FRYE
snerial 70 NE star

BY WILLIAM r. FRYE
Social to The Star
UNITED, NATIONS, N. Y
Sept. 26. Soviet Union
has touched off an intense
East-West war Of maneuver on
Berlin here in the 10s-nation
United Nations General As
sembly.
Berlin is not yet formally on
the q. N. agenda, but it is al
ready a part of the diplomatic
chess game.
An initial climax in the pre-
hminary maneuvering is due |
today when the Assembly's |
powerful Steering Committee |
decides whether to recommend |
debate on a Soviet plan to
freeze the power frontiers of
Central Europe.
The first Western counter
move was made Tuesday,
Canadian suggestion that the |
Assembly study Soviet "co-
lonialism" in Berlin, Central
Europe and elsewhere. The
move was made by Howard
Green, Secretary Of State for
External Affairs.
Judgment Asked
simultaneously a group Of
West German leaders asked |
the U. N. Human Rights Com
mission to pass judgment on
violations of essential freedoms
by the East German regime.
Battle lines thus are being
drawn for a struggle which
U. N. people think may sky
rocket in Importance by No
vember. They believe it could
prepare the platform for a
U. N. visit by Soviet Premier
Nikita Khrushchev.
The tip-off on Soviet inten-
tions. U. N. "demonologists"
Kremlin experts) say, is a
Soviet proposal that the U. N.
condemn any propaganda"
for revision Of the national
frontiers established in Europe
as a result of the Second World
War"
This proposal was offered
Friday by Soviet Foreign Min
lister Andrei Gromyko. He
asked for a full-scale Assembly
debates
The Steering Committee is
expected to grant this request.
Western delegates do not plan
to fight the request. though
they hope to bury the debate
under some less attention
catching heading If possible.
Condemnation of all efforts
to revise national frontiers"
experts point out, would
amount to a ban on attempts
to reunify either Germany or
Berlin. It would imply u. N.
sanction for the Berlin wall.
Moscow regards the barbed
wire dividing Germany and the
cement wall splitting Berlin as
a national frontier"
Debate on such a proposition,
whatever the outcome, could
help create a climate Of opinion
in which signing Of a German
peace treaty might seem
normal and even constructive,
observers say.
They would not be surprised
I osee Mr.. Khrushchev come to
New York to take part in such
a debate.
Mr.. Green, speaking for Can
ada Tuesday in the u. Ms an
nual general debate" on world
problems, warned Moscow in
effect that the West would not
take such a campaign lying
down. Noting the Assembly's
preoccupation with independ-
ence for Afgrican colonies. he
said:
when the United Nations is
examining .(coloniaD situations
in many other areas of the
world, it should not ignore the
areas under Soviet rule.
The charter principles on
human rights and elf-determi-
nation are clearly intended to be
universal in their application.
Roll-Back Question
u. N. study of Soviet colo
nialism would have exactly the
opposite effect from a formal
blessing to the Soviet empire
in Eastern Europe. 1t wouid |
reopen the whole question of |
a "roll-back" of the East West |
power frontier along the Elbe. |
Mr.. Green did not propose |
formally that the subject be put
on the U. N. agenda. If neces-
sary, it could be discussed un-
der the Soviet item, sources
said.
He nevertheless threw the
idea out as a kind of threat
in case the Kremlin presses its
Berlin offensive. The West
German plea, also unofficial
until sponsored by some U. N.
member state, is put in the
same category.
There is every indication Mr..
Gromyko does intend to press
his campaign. He also wants
the U. N. to impose a solemn
commitment" not to be the first
to use nuclear weapons any,
where.