Israeli representative Aubrey S. Eban today took his seat in the United Nations Interim Committee, better known as the “Little Assembly.” In his first speech at the committee, which is boycotted by the Soviet bloc, Mr. Eban said that he would abstain from voting on an American resolution to perpetuate indefinitely the life of the Interim Committee. The complete text of his statement follows:
In our view the work undertaken by the Committee is of importance and use to the organization as a whole and provision should be made for its continuation in the best possible auspices. It is a regrettable fact, as the delegate from Egypt has pointed out, that this work has aroused such deep controversy in this organization; alone of the organs of the United Nations it is incomplete in its composition.
“My delegation believes that an earnest effort should be made at the forthcoming session of the General Assembly to secure universal participation in this work; it may be possible to work out an organizational system or terms of reference as to allay any apprehension expressed on constitutional grounds.
“In these circumstances my delegation will note vote at this stage while still reserving its position during the discussions in the General Assembly. We feel that it would be prudent for the course advocated by the representative of Australia to be followed and for the report to be forwarded without a specific resolution.”
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