Turn of the Screw

Cocksure and belligerent as a Digger in his favorite pub, Delegate William R.

Hodgson damned Poland's case ("kyse" in his Cockney-like Australian *) for a break in relations with Spain and Brazil's "kyse" against U.N. intervention in the domestic affairs of any state.

"What is the objective?" barked Hodgson. "To remove the Franco regime. But does the Polish delegate really think severance of diplomatic relations is going to accomplish that objective? Is the Soviet delegate really serious? . . . Action such as that is likely to strengthen Franco. . . .

But if Spain is a menace we [will support] everything we can do under the Charter." Even sober-sided Andrei Gromyko grinned. By the time Hodgson was through, the Australian delegate had enough votes to back the principle of a Council subcommittee investigation to decide whether Spanish Fascism is a domes tic matter or a threat to world peace.

Before Hodgson intervened, Russia had the U.S. and Britain over a barrel. No one seriously believed that Franco was about to go on the warpath, and Gromyko had no constructive proposal on how to get rid of him. But if Stettinius and Cadogan voted tacit aid & comfort to Franco by defeating Gromyko, Russia could use that fact to advance her own ends, from Trieste to Tokyo. If the West continued to do nothing about Franco, it would in crease the chance that his successor will be more Communist than democratic.

Despite the Russian-inspired diversion on Spain, the Council did not forget Iran.

U.N. Secretary-General Trygve Lie took Russia's side in his first intervention in the Council's affairs -- a letter questioning its right to keep Iran on the agenda. The Council referred the letter to its Committee of Experts, who lined up as the Council had, eight to three against the Lie interpretation. As a consolation prize, Lie saw his first ball game (Giants 8, Phillies 4 -- see PEOPLE), while Hodgson sat beside him, cracking peanuts.

In Iran itself the Russians turned the screw a little tighter. The Gavam Government played along by slapping censorship on foreign correspondents, suppressing the rightist press and jailing so many rightist leaders that even moderates were afraid to file for the June 7 elections.

The West still hoped that the Teheran government could be saved from Soviet puppethood. High Washington officials said privately and prayerfully that the Council's firm stand had made it harder for Moscow to take over all of Iran. London was less optimistic; Labor MAP.

Michael Foot, just back from an official visit to Teheran, said this week that the Russians were likely to keep a "dominat ing force" in Azerbaijan and planned to control Iran's elections.

*For an expert opinion on U.N. voices, see RADIO.

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