Russia Drops Veto Question Stand in U.N.

NEW YORK, October 25 -- Soviet Russia, displaying a new spirit of agreement, abandoned today a bitter battle to prevent a complete airing of the politically-hot veto question in the United Nations Assembly.

Shortly afterwards, the United Kingdom, first of the great powers to speak out since the general debate began yesterday, attacked Russia for her "reckless use" of the veto in the Security Council.

Developments in the action-packed U.N. day were:

1. Soviet Russia withdrew all opposition in the Assembly's steering committee to five items proposed for the agenda, three of them affecting the veto right of the five great powers.

2. The United States backed down from its demand that the veto question be given top priority in the Assembly debate.

3. The United Kingdom warned that if the "reckless use" of the veto is continued the United Nations Security Council "very soon" will be discredited.

4. Argentina demanded that the veto be discarded; India spoke for the unity of the great powers; and Venezuela urged restriction of the veto power.

The members of the powerful 14-man steering committee obviously were cheered by the attitude of conciliation taken by Russia and the United States in the committee. They quickly voted to recommend that the Assembly place the items affecting the veto on the agenda, which the committee is expected to submit next week at the end of the general debate