Gromyko Takes a Walk

It was very simple, said Andrei Gromyko: Moscow and Teheran had already settled their dispute and UNO need not bother to consider the case. The Netherlands' sharp-nosed, sharp-tongued Eelco van Kleffens pressed for the exact nature and terms of what Gromyko had referred to as "an agreement," "an understanding," and "negotiations."

"Shto zdes neyacno?" snapped Gromyko ("What is there here that isn't clear?"). But with Russian troops still in Iran and no documents available on the alleged agreement, the other Security Council delegates at UNO-in-The Bronx were more confused than they liked to admit. Was the Red Army moving out or just moving around? Had wily old Premier Ahmed Gavam made a private deal with Stalin?

The delegates had only one certainty: if Iran was not allowed to speak up in meeting,, no small nation could ever put its trust in UNO.

"I Therefore Leave. . . ." When the debate made it clear that only Poland's Oskar Lange agreed with him, and that Iran's Hussein Ala would be heard in spite of the Russian objection, Gromyko announced: "I am not able to participate further in the discussions . . . and I therefore leave the meeting." He waited for the French and English translations of his statement before rising. Then he pushed back his chair, straightened his black double-breasted coat and walked briskly toward the far door, followed by his three advisers. His normally pale face was flushed. For the first time, Jimmy Byrnes' brow was beaded with sweat.

"Plenty of Vodka." Gromyko's walkout only emphasized the Russian insistence on one-power veto--even for procedural matters--which they have been raising ever since Dumbarton Oaks. The Council had refused to accept a paralyzing procedural veto.

That evening bumbling Oskar Lange tried to minimize the withdrawal by suggesting that Gromyko has absented himself as any delegate "might have to do if he were, say, sick, or got killed in an automobile accident." Next day the Council held an executive session, while Gromyko took a ride (see below) without an accident. But other Russian representatives attended the meetings of the Committee of Experts and the Military Staff Committee, and Russia transferred $1,7 23,-ooo to UNO's bank account, the Soviet Union's full quota of UNO dues.

By Friday some of the tenseness was gone. At an open meeting, Lange twitted Ala about Gavam's going to Moscow "merely to attend a vodka party," was not offended when Ala got the best of the exchange by cracking back that Gavam got "plenty of vodka and caviar" but had not sold out his country.

Northern Lights. Byrnes proposed that UNO ask both Russia and Iran to report officially on the status of their negotiations, wanted answers by April 2. Other delegates suggested April 4 because "magnetic storms" were delaying communications. Chairman Quo Tai-chi compromised on April 3. While UNO waited for the Russian and Iranian reports, Pravda called the whole crisis "artificial," and pronounced further discussion of the case "superfluous" in the light of "the mutual understanding reached regarding evacuation of Soviet forces from Iran."

Northern lights, actual and symbolic, had played over UNO during the week; with Teheran reports that the Red Army was steadily withdrawing northward, Russian policy also looked a little brighter--but still fitful.

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