The morning after
LETTERS
From Frank Judd, MP, J. L. Rude, Gordon I. Barrie, Rev John Anderson, Mrs Joan M. Lee. Mrs Vera Houghton, Quentin de la Bedoyere. Robert E. Walters, Peter Archer, me, I. F. Reenan, Robert Bowman, J. C. Phillips.
Sir: It was a pity that Philip-de Zulueta (16 June) by his slapdash, almost hysterical approach did so much damage to the cause of those who con- stantly seek to strengthen the unt. One would like to know on what basis he argues that the United Nations Associations are in disarray following the Middle East crisis. It is in fact precisely in such quarters that there is at least surprise at the chain of events. The disillusionment is most obvious amongst those with only a superficial understand- ing of the um and a naively subjective belief that it is acceptable only when it operates as a tool of western foreign policy.
Simply because of his 'position as the type of international civil servant de Zulueta advocates, U Thant had absolutely no alternative but to order the withdrawal of UNEF immediately Nasser requested this. Just as Israel had a perfect right to refuse the force access to her territory for over ten years. despite the original hope that she would cooperate, so Egypt was entitled to ask for its removal at any time. Had the Secretary-General delayed by even a day he would immediately have been discredited as an instrument of western im- perialism, a likelihood increased by the decision of the Indians and Yugoslays in any case to with- draw their contingents from the force. To deny this is to ignore the whole debate on the ures peace-keeping functions which has so preoccupied the organisation in recent years. There was also, of course, the hope that by removing UNEF there would be an opportunity to gain Nasser's co- operation in reactivating the mixed armistice commission.
It is arguable that in historical per- spective we shalt see that U Thant brought the world community face to face with the reality de Zulueta is trying to articulate. He had, incident- tally, already said to the General Assembly last autumn in no uncertain terms that peacekeeping operations were an expensive cumulative process that did nothing to reconcile the parties to a conflict.
On other immediate practical grounds the con- clusions to be drawn from the crisis emphasise the indispensability of the um Generally the or- ganisation played a vital part in limiting the war; locally General Odd Bull and the UN Truce Super- visory Organisation, thrust so unceremoniously aside during the fighting. were required to play a critical part in achieving and supervising the cease-fire. The only place where the Arabs, the Israelis and the great powers are in physical con- tact is at the tnt. There is an increasing realisation that a lasting settlement in the area can be found only in an international context.
The truth is that June 1967 was one more im- pressive lesson that in the nuclear age there is no such thing as isolated conflict; that peace is really indivisible; and that effective systems of world order can no longer be regarded as a romantic pipe-dream—on this, I suspect de Zulueta would certainly agree.
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