The Hindu : dated November 15, 1952: Top U.N. Official Commits Suicide

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Friday, Nov 15, 2002

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dated November 15, 1952: Top U.N. Official Commits Suicide

The United Nations, still reeling from the confusion caused by Secretary-General, Mr. Trygve Lie's sudden resignation, suffered another blow on November 13 when Mr. Abraham Feller, top legal counsellor and acting Assistant Secretary-General, committed suicide by jumping down from the window of his twelfth floor flat. Mr. Trygve Lie connected the tragedy with a U.S. Senate enquiry into "Communist infiltration in the U.N." Mr. Lie said that Mr. Feller had worked "tirelessly under my direction to uphold the due process of law and justice in investigations against indiscriminate smears and exaggerated charges. This placed him under prolonged and serious strain, leading to this terrible tragedy of his self-inflicted death, on November 13.

Mr. Feller had submitted his resignation some days earlier but was persuaded by Mr. Lie to withdraw it. He had made routine appearances before the McCarran Enquiry Committee but U.N. officials denied he had himself been subpoenaed or was under suspicion. However, the general atmosphere had been so vitiated by certain irresponsible politicians that even routine appearances before the Committee could suffice enough to ruin any American's reputation. Mr. Feller was the victim of that atmosphere.

Mr. Feller's death was a proof of how badly the morale of the U.N. Secretariat has been undermined by charges being hurled that it was a hotbed of spies and traitors.

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