Operation Whalen

With its Iranian sprain nearly healed, the United Nations could settle back and think about their lease on The Bronx's Hunter College. But not for long. The lease expired May 15, and New York City, the owner, was hinting that it wanted Hunter back for its dispossessed young females.

This development did not seem to depress the delegates in the least—even though their governments had spent $250,000 to give the college a global air. Hunter was not really big enough. Already, Secretary General Trygve Lie had a line on a likely spot for U.N.'s next visit—the spacious, glass-bricked, $18 million Sperry Gyroscope plant at Lake Success, Long Island.

Last week, a jovial 14-car motorcade, containing all but the U.S. and Egyptian delegates, and spearheaded by New York's handwringing, homburg-hatted Grover Whalen, set out for Long Island to seek another temporary home.

Russian Delegate Andrei Gromyko, making his second appearance since his walkout, was particularly gay. The Soviet Purchasing Commission had just bought the $1 million Long Island estate pf deceased capitalist George Dupont Pratt for a reported $120,000 (see INTERNATIONAL) . He himself had received a box of flowers from an admirer who wrote "God bless you and Uncle Joe" and signed himself "Rock-ribbed Republican." The scenery was nice too. Gromyko even accepted a light from a reporter for the Russophobe Chicago Tribune.

A mean wind and a press conference greeted the delegates at the Sperry entrance. Since they had yet to see the plant, they could offer no opinions. After they had seen it, they offered little more. The motorcade, with its two-cop escort, whirled off in the direction of Manhattan, stopping briefly to inspect the million-dollar estates of the late John D. Ryan and Nicholas Brady.

Again the delegates headed for the city—six to a car, save for Mr. Gromyko, who rode alone behind his Russian chauffeur. Suddenly Mr. Gromyko's car stopped, fouling up the motorcade. An interpreter was dispatched to see what ailed him. It was minor: Mr. Gromyko merely wanted to know where he had been.