UNITED NATIONS, N.Y., Aug. 6, 1964 (UPI) - A Soviet-American dispute over Viet-Namese participation threatened today to delay the United Nations debate on the Southeast Asia crisis. Norwegian Ambassador Sivert E. Nielsen, president of the Security Council for August, scheduled a series of informal consultations with the other 10 council members on a Soviet demand that North Viet-Nam be invited to participate in the debate, and U.S. insistence that in that case, South Viet-Nam take part as well. The council did not meet today.
It also is "conceivable" that Communist China will be invited to the United Nations Security Council table when debate resumes on the North Viet-Nam naval attacks. Adlai E. Stevenson, U.S. ambassador of the UN, raised the prospect last night after the opening council meeting.
Soviet Ambassador Platon D. Morozov charged that only the American version of the naval battles in the Gulf of Tonkin and their aftermath was being heard.
Stevenson promptly said the United States had no objection to North Viet-Nam being invited but that South Viet-Nam should then be invited also. Neither Viet-Nam is a member of the United Nations.
Informed sources said the Soviets would most likely not agree to both Viet-Nams attending. A deadlock could slow or halt council debate.
The council met in emergency session yesterday at Stevenson's request, despite Soviet attempts to delay it until today.
Stevenson warned that the United States would not tolerate attacks on its ships by North Viet-Nam or anyone else.
