USSR's Mule-Headed Methods: Play It My Way BY SAUL CARSON (JTA Correspondent at the UN) (Copyright, 1965, JTA, Inc.) UNITED NATIONS, N.Y.—A funny thing happened to the Rus- sians recently on the way to Geneva. They came to the forum there, at the United Nations Euro- pean Headquarters, lugging into a human rights issue the same notion that they have been applying so vigorously to United Nations finan- cing. In the fiscal area; they claim that they are not obliged to give money to the UN peace keeping operations, since they never voted in favor of those forces. In the human rights field, they have now decided, they don't have to have any truck with any non-governmen- tal organizations accredited by the UN, unless such groups have affi- liates in the Soviet Union. Both views are cut from the same shoddy cloth. What the Russians are say- ing, in effect, is that they have the right to veto anything and everything done or even merely recommended by any body in the United Nations. Throughout the world adhering to what we like to think of as civilized behavior, it is accepted that majority rule is taken for granted. If you don't happen to agree with the decision of any group or association—or, in fact, any government—you have the right to argue; but once a decision has been taken, you are bound by that decision. Not, however, by So- viet standards. The Kremlin's no- tion of civilized behavior is: You play it my way, or I won't play. This view was transferred into the human rights field last week when the Subcommission on Pre- vention of Discrimination and Pro- tection of Minorities convened for its annual, three week session at Geneva. One of the items on the opening day of the session con- cerned a progress report on a study ordered by the subcommis- sion two years ago on equality in the administration of justice. The rapporteur happened to be Chief Justice Mohammed Abu Rannat, of Sudan, a member of the 14-member Subcommission. Justice Rannat reported that, thus far, he has received con- tributions for his study from a number of governments. He omitted reference to one report he was known to have received, from a highly prestigious world organization, t h e International Commission of Jurists. Why did he, chief justice of the highest court in the land of a member- government, ignore a report by such a noted body as the Inter- national Commission? Well, the reason is dear. Morris B. Abram, the United States expert on the subcommis- sion, president of the American Jewish Committee, pointed to the answer. The International Commis- sion's report had noted that, in the Soviet Union, justice is not admin- istered quite equally. There, the body stated, certain citizens have been singled' out for persecution— rather than prosecution—for al- leged "economic crimes." And who are those people? Soviet Jews. The Russian representative on the group hit the ceiling. Russia, he said, would refuse to recognize reports from any body that does not have an affiliate in the USSR. What about Jewish organizations, asked Mr. Abram. Seated in the very room where the Subcommis- sion met were responsible spokes- men for various world Jewish bodies, repreknting, among others, the World Jewish Congress, Ameri- can Jewish Committee, World Agu- dath Israel, Bnai Brith, the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Alli- ance Israelite Universelle, the An- glo-Jewish Association, the World Reform movement, and others. Without naming these bodies, Mr. Abraam pointed out that the Jewish groups have no affiliates in the Soviet Union—by edict of the Kremlin (which he did not add). But, for the - RuSsians, it was - • enough when they declared that only the rule of majority but also the International Commission's re- the principle of peoplehood. port on Soviet "justice" was "ten- One principle they cannot re- dentious and libelous." vise—as long as the U.S.A. and Through that stand, the Rus- other major powers keep their sians were not only bringing to head—c o n c e r n s dialogue. The Geneva the rules of the game U.S.A. insists it will not push the they are playing at UN Head- USSR to the wall—but it will also quarters in New York on the refuse to accept USSR stubborn- financial issue. They were also ness when such mule-headedness trying to negate another highly endangers the very fabric of the important procedure, built into United Nations. the United Nations practices. From the very beginning, the Hospital Sets Priorities UN determined that "NGO's"- MONTREAL (JTA) — Only 37 non-governmental organizations — beds of a total of 247 in the re- must be given a voice, especially in cently opened *Maimonides Hospi- certain bodies dealing with econo- tal and Home for the Aged, at Cote mic, social and other human rights St. Luc, can be used for patients affairs. The UN thus recognized who are well, all the other beds that it is an organization not only being reserved for sick aged, the of governments, but of people. The institution has announced. That Charter starts with "people"—and limitation of the ratio of well to not governments. It is only sick to aged, it, was made clear, through the NGO's that people was laid down in the grant of have anything to say directly to $1,073,000 by the province of Que- the world organization. Now the bec for the construction of the new Soviet Union wants to revise not building. JOHANNESBURG (JTA)—Sharp is also pm-government, declared criticisms were voiced here against that the procedure "could only give two pro-government dailies that groundA of indulgence in racial- have listed the "racial origin" of ism." A spokesman for the United candidates in the forthcoming elec- Party attacked the practice as tions to the provincial council. In "an attempt at isolating Jewish their listings, these newspapers candidates." Other opposition have added the identifications members in Parliament also criti- "Jewish," "Greek-English," "Eng- cized the new practice. lish" and "Afrikaans" after the names of the candidates. Even a fool is counted wise if Dirk. Richard, editor of the Na- he keeps silent, intelligent if he tionalist weekly, Dagbreek, which shuts his lips. —Proverbs I WANT TO BE YOUR DODGE BOY LI 9-6161 3384541 PAUL NEWMAN'S PAUL NEWMAN 211 S. Saginaw, Pontiac, Mich. Everybody's talking Tempo! Tempo's filter has a section of charcoal granules bound together,* plus a white fiber outer section. Tempo's special tobaccos are carefully chosen to give you smoother taste ... a taste too good to miss. Another quality product from the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Get to know Empo ® 1963 R. J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, WINSTON-SALEM, N. C. vix{.6.44, THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, March 5, 1965-15 2 South African Papers Criticized for Injecting Candidates' 'Racial Origin' in Election Campaign a:Mg