DELEGATES SEATED; IVORY COAST DELEGATE SPEAKS - (FRENCH SOF); DINESH SINGH CLOSES CONFERENCE - (ENGLISH SOF); DELEGATES LEAVE; DOOR LOCKED.




Initials GBH/V/CR/PF



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Background: THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT (UNCTAD) ENDED ON A NOTE OF DISILLUSIONMENT AND FAILURE LAST NIGHT (FRIDAY) AFTER MEETING FOR TWO MONTHS IN NEW DELHI.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, DR. RAUL PREBISCH, TOLD THE 2,000 DELEGATES THAT A GREAT VACUUM HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE BY ITS FAILURE TO DRAW UP A GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR DEVELOPMENT.

DELEGATES FROM 132 NATIONS HAVE BEEN BATTLING OVER PLANS TO NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN THE WEALTHY AND POOR NATIONS, BUT TOO OFTEN POLITICS INTRUDED ON ECONOMICS. THERE WERE SEVERAL WALK-OUTS ON POLITICAL GROUNDS, INCLUDING A NUMBER AGAINST SOUTH AFRICA.

THE MAMMOTH GATHERING, EXTENDED BY ALMOST A WEEK TO AVERT A THREATENED TOTAL COLLAPSE OF NEGOTIATIONS, DID AGREE ON A NEW GLOBAL PLAN FOR WEALTHY NATIONS TO TRANSFER FINANCIAL RESOURCES WORTH ONE PER CENT OF THEIR NATIONAL GROSS PRODUCT TO POOR COUNTRIES. IT ALSO OBTAINED PROMISES FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES FOR EASIER AID TERMS, PROSPECTS FOR INDUSTRIALISED NATIONS OPENING THEIR MARKETS TO MORE GOODS FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCREASED FOOD AID AND A NUMBER OF SMALLER ITEMS.

BUT CONFERENCE PRESIDENT DINESH SINGH, INDIA'S COMMERCE MINISTER, SPOKE YESTERDAY OF THE CONFERENCE HAVING BEEN MORE OF A CONFRONTATION THAN THE EXERCISE IN CO-OPERATION THAT HAD BEEN HOPED FOR.

BOTH DR. PREBISCH AND MR. DINESH SINGH EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION WOULD HAVE IMPROVED BY THE TIME THE UNCTAD BOARD MET IN 1969.