A New India
Chapter 211 - 211: Voting and Results

Seeing the room silent, Chairman spoke. "Delegates, we are now proceeding to vote on the resolution presented. Each nation will cast its vote: Yes, No, or Abstain. Please remember, a veto from any permanent member of the Security Council will nullify the resolution."

As the roll call began, the delegates waited with bated breath.

"United States," the Chairman called.

Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. stood. "Yes."

"United Kingdom."

Sir Pierson Dixon stood, his voice clipped and formal. "The United Kingdom reserves its position."

The room tensed further. Dixon's carefully chosen words hinted at Britain's likely veto.

"Soviet Union."

Arkady Sobolev rose with deliberate slowness, his voice ringing out. "Yes."

The decolonized nations' representatives nodded approvingly.

Sobolev's support was a given, but it bolstered the momentum against Britain and France.

"France."

Alphand stood "The French Republic reserves its position."

The silence was extreme.

The phrase was identical to Dixon's, hinting at a coordinated move.

"Egypt."

Omar Loutfi rose, his voice clear but heavy with emotion. "Yes."

There was applause from the Arab delegations, their support for Egypt unwavering.

"India."

V.K. Krishna Menon rose, his expression calm but firm. "Yes."

Menon's vote was met with murmurs of approval.

He turned slightly toward Dixon and Alphand as he sat down.

The roll call continued, each nation casting its vote. Smaller nations, particularly those from Asia, Africa, and Latin America, overwhelmingly voted in favor of the resolution.

But tension reached its peak as the final tallies approached.

All eyes turned back to the major powers.

The Chairman cleared his throat. "We now call upon the United Kingdom for its definitive vote."

Dixon rose slowly, adjusting his tie. He looked around the room, meeting the eyes of several delegates before speaking. "The United Kingdom recognizes the complexities of the situation and the importance of stability in the region. However, we believe this resolution, as written, does not adequately address the risks posed by Nasser's actions to global trade and security. Therefore…" He paused for effect. "…the United Kingdom exercises its veto."

The chamber erupted in uproar. Delegates shouted, some slamming their hands on desks, while others gestured angrily toward Dixon.

The Arab delegations were particularly vocal, their outrage spilling into heated exclamations in multiple languages.

Omar Loutfi's face darkened, his composure cracking slightly as he turned to confer urgently with his aides.

The Chairman banged his gavel repeatedly, struggling to restore order. "Delegates! Delegates, I remind you to maintain decorum in this chamber!"

As the noise subsided slightly, the Chairman addressed France. "France, we now request your definitive vote."

Alphand stood, his demeanor unyielding. "France concurs with the United Kingdom's assessment and also exercises its veto."

The room exploded again, louder this time. Some delegates stood, shouting accusations of imperialism and bad faith.

Others slumped in their chairs, visibly deflated.

Sobolev leaned back in his seat, his expression dark, while Krishna Menon glared across the room at Dixon and Alphand.

Omar Loutfi stood abruptly, his voice rising. "This is a betrayal, plain and simple! Egypt came to this assembly in good faith, believing the United Nations could uphold its principles of sovereignty and peace. But today, we see that colonial powers will stop at nothing to protect their own interests, even as they trample on the rights of free nations."

Dixon turned to respond, his voice sharp. "Mr. Loutfi, the United Kingdom has acted with restraint and responsibility. Your leader, President Nasser, has endangered global stability with his reckless policies. This veto is not a betrayal it is a necessary action to protect international order."

Sobolev's voice cut through the exchange, cold and biting. "International order, Mr. Dixon? You speak of order while you enable aggression and occupation. The Soviet Union condemns this veto and the clear imperialist ambitions behind it. The world is not blind to what is happening here."

Alphand, refusing to back down, replied with equal force. "Spare us the lectures, Mr. Sobolev. The Soviet Union's track record on respecting sovereignty is as dubious as anyone's. Your support for Nasser is nothing but opportunism, a way to spread your influence in the Middle East."

Menon stood, his voice calm but cutting. "And Britain and France's actions are somehow altruistic, Ambassador Alphand? Let us be honest, this veto is about maintaining control, not stability. It is about denying Egypt the right to govern its resources because it does not fit into your vision of the world."

Lodge, trying to de-escalate, raised his hand. "Gentlemen, let's not lose sight of the bigger picture. The vetoes are unfortunate, but this doesn't have to be the end of diplomacy. We can still find a path forward."

Loutfi, his voice hoarse but unwavering, responded. "Mr. Lodge, diplomacy has been hijacked. Egypt came here seeking justice, and what we have received instead is confirmation that the colonial mindset still governs this body."

Dixon's face was grim. "Mr. Loutfi, I assure you, the United Kingdom's actions are guided by necessity, not malice. This is not the end of discussions. Britain is prepared to work toward a resolution that balances Egypt's rights with the global need for stability."

Sobolev's laughter echoed across the hall. "Balances Egypt's rights? No, Mr. Dixon. What you seek is to balance those rights against your own interests and tilt the scales in your favor. This veto proves it."

Alphand, visibly irritated, retorted. "And what of the Soviet Union's interests, Mr. Sobolev? Do not pretend that your support for Nasser is anything more than a geopolitical gambit."

Menon raised his hand, speaking with restrained anger. "Enough. This debate has made one thing abundantly clear: the veto power is being wielded not for peace, but for power. The world is watching, and the nations in this room will remember who stood for justice and who stood for self-interest."

The Chairman called for order again, his gavel ringing out. "Delegates, please! We must maintain order. The resolution has been vetoed. This session is adjourned."

As the delegates began to leave.

Loutfi walked past Menon and Sobolev, his face a mask of exhaustion and anger. "This isn't over," he muttered to them. "Egypt will fight."

Sobolev placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are not alone, Mr. Loutfi. The Soviet Union will ensure this aggression does not go unanswered."

Menon nodded solemnly. "Nor will India. The tide is turning, even if Britain and France refuse to see it."

As the delegates filtered out of the General Assembly.

Conversations turned into heated whispers, alliances were quietly recalibrated, and the lines between friends and adversaries blurred.

The veto by Britain and France had not just killed the resolution, it had shifted the tone of the world

At the end of the corridor, Dixon and Alphand convened with their respective delegations.

Their private discussion was anything but celebratory.

Dixon's voice was sharp as he addressed his aides. "This is a temporary reprieve. The resolution is dead, but the fallout will grow. Every vote against us today will turn into propaganda for Nasser and his Soviet backers. We've bought time, but we need to prepare for the storm."

Alphand, lighting a cigarette with shaking hands, added, "The Americans are slipping. Lodge's insistence on a neutral resolution wasn't just political posturing, Washington is growing restless with our approach. We cannot let this fracture the alliance."

An aide interjected, "Ambassador Alphand, what about the Soviet threat? They're clearly preparing to escalate."

Dixon shook his head. "The Soviets will rattle their sabers, but they won't risk direct conflict. Not over Egypt. No, our focus needs to remain on the canal. The operation is underway, and Israel's progress buys us some breathing room."

Alphand exhaled smoke, his tone cynical. "Breathing room, yes. But how do we frame this to the world? We've vetoed peace. That's the story now."

Dixon leaned forward, his voice a low growl. "We frame it as necessary. We hammer home the instability caused by Nasser's ambitions. We remind the world that this is about securing global trade, not imperial nostalgia. And we don't back down."

Alphand nodded but looked unconvinced. "This isn't over, Pierson. The Americans may not veto us outright, but they're pulling back. If we lose their support…"

Dixon cut him off. "Then we hold the line ourselves. Let them wring their hands while we secure the canal. If they think we'll walk away from this, they're fools."

In another quieter corner, Arkady Sobolev sat with his aides, a small smirk playing at the edges of his lips.

The Soviet delegation had seen the vetoes coming, but the resulting backlash had played into their hands.

"Today, the imperialists showed their true faces," Sobolev said, his tone dripping with satisfaction. "They speak of peace but veto the very idea of it. They claim stability but unleash war."

An aide nodded, scribbling notes. "The Asian and Arab nations are furious. This is an opportunity to strengthen our ties with them."

Sobolev leaned back, his smile widening. "Yes. Britain and France have handed us a gift. Every veto, every bomb dropped on Egyptian soil, brings more nations to our side. Let them dig their own graves."

A younger diplomat, hesitant but curious, asked, "And what of the Americans? They supported the resolution but didn't push harder. Where do they stand?"

Sobolev's smile faded slightly. "The Americans are pragmatists. They'll condemn Britain and France when it suits them, but they'll never let the Soviet Union gain full influence in the Middle East. No, we must play this carefully. Support Egypt, yes, but keep the Americans guessing.