Solution Over Shrimps

The delegates to the U.N. General Assembly were all eager to get home for the holidays, but they could not end their tenth-anniversary session until they could agree on which small nation should get the eleventh seat on the Security Council. They had disagreed for 35 ballots, an alltime U.N. record.

The antagonists were the Philippines and Yugoslavia; the issue geography and precedent. The British Commonwealth countries, West Europeans and the Soviet bloc insisted on Yugoslavia's election to the Security Council seat that has been reserved since a "gentlemen's agreement" in London ten years ago as the "East European" seat on the Council. The U.S., arguing that the agreement has run out and that Asia's growing importance entitles it to a Council seat, was joined by almost all of the Latin Americans and many Asian members in supporting the Philippines.

Neither side would give ground. At last. Assembly President Jose Maza of Chile proposed a novel solution--Yugoslavia and the Philippines could agree to split the two-year Council term, draw lots to see which sits the first year. At a private meeting in Maza's office. Yugoslavia won the draw. Then, however, the Assembly balked at Maza's recourse to "lottery'' and insisted on more balloting. More balloting brought more deadlock, and finally Yugoslavia agreed, if elected, to resign from the Council after one year in the Philippines' favor. With that understanding, the delegates elected the Yugoslavs by a decisive 43 out of 70 votes. That done, delegates stood up for a traditional minute of silent "prayer or meditation" and then, to the bang of Senor Maza's gavel, scurried home. It had been a contentious, tiring 13 weeks for all. and particularly for Assembly President Maza, who was also besieged by an increasing round of diplomatic teas, dinners and cocktail parties. "You have to drink the same Scotch or the same Manhattans," he complained, "and eat the same shrimps and talk to the selfsame people. It is somewhat tiring . . ."

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