UNITED NATIONS: A Little Entertainment

Ventriloquism is no novelty at the U.N. The ancient, stiff-lipped, diplomatic art of throwing words into another’s mouth has been practiced long and often between the world’s capitals and U.N.’s council tables. But up to now, like Charlie himself, the McCarthys have taken all the bows. Last week, a U.N. version of Edgar Bergen made a brief bid for attention.

He was swarthy, sixtyish, learned Balliol-graduate Sir Maharaj Singh, one of India’s principal delegates to the Assembly. Author, statesman and educator, Sir Maharaj taught himself ventriloquism some 30 years ago (to amuse his children). Last week, with all the exuberance that earned him an Oxford “half-blue” in featherweight boxing and made him a top Indian tennis “champion, Delegate Singh offered to show off his talent before a meeting of a trusteeship subcommittee. To help him he had a brand-new stooge named Uno, just purchased for $85 in Times Square.

“This fellow’s still new,” explained Sir Maharaj, “we haven’t got quite used to each other yet.” Committee members, press and public jammed the committee room. Sir Maharaj and Uno were just about to go into their routine. (Sample, as seen later by a TIME reporter—Singh: “Who’re you?” Uno: “Oh, I’m Uno.” Singh: “Do you have to use many languages out there?” Uno: “Oh, I get along on me Irish.”) Then who should stalk in but austere U.S. Delegate John Foster Dulles. He whispered a discreet, wholly unofficial word in Singh’s ear. Sir Maharaj called off the show.

“I had thought,” he murmured as the spectators dispersed, “the committee could use a little entertainment.”