Syrian-Russian Trade Talks

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28343, 31 July 1957, Page 11

Syrian-Russian Trade Talks

(Rec. 9 p.m.) MOSCOW, July 29 Negotiations between the Syrian and Soviet trade delegations continued in Moscow today on economic matters, according to the Moscow Radio in an Arab language broadcast. The Syrian Defence Minister. Khaled el Azem, is leading his country’s delegation. the Soviet delegation were ™ Soviet Communist Party leader. Mr Khrushchev, the Soviet Prime Minister, Marshal Bulganin, and the Defence Minister, Marshal Georgi Zhukov. After the talks, the Syrians attended a banquet at the Kremlin lstan° nOUr ° f the K ‘ ng 01 Afghan ‘ Hong Kons-—The New Zealand cruiser Royalist arrived in Hong Kong today from Singapore on a week’s recreational visit before going to Penang to take part in the Mal®yan _ independence celebrations. The Royalist is on a year’s service in Far Eastern waters.—Hong Kong, July 30. Mr Walter George Hl.— Walter George, President Esienhcwer’s special ambassador to N.A.T.0., Was reported today to be gravely ill and growing weaker. He is 79. —Atlanta, July 29.

“If it be demonstrated that the danger of surprise attacks can be and will be reduced, it should be more possible to make progress in reducing the burden of armament and solving the grave political problems which can endanger peace,” he said. Mr Dulles had a late night conference with the Foreign Secretary, Mr Selwyn Lloyd. “The Times” said that Mr Dulles had been joined by the United States representative on the N.A.T.O. Council in Paris, Mr George Perkins, and the United States Ambassador to Germany, Mr Bruce. This was some indication that in putting forward a zone ol aerial inspection the United States would, now propose a zone in Europe as well possibly as the Arctic . Zone, which was easier to organise.

But alone it would not be favoured by most N.A.T.O. countries since although Canada, Denmark and Norway were affected it might savour too much of a largely bilateral deal between the United States and Russia, ‘The Times” said.

In any event, a zone in Europe would be a more significant, and therefore, possibly, a more important, advanced

The “Daily Express” said that behind Mr Dulles’s visit was a plan to girdle the world with a “safety belt’ ’ which would be subject to aerial inspection by both East and West.

The chief American delegate to the London talks. Mr Stassen, had insisted throughout the recent discussions that there wasevery chance of doing a deal with Russia.

He. had maintained this view in spitq of the scepticism of his British, Canadian and French colleagues.

The aim and object of the Dulles mission was to prove that President Eisenhower’s plan justified the optimism of Mr Stassen, the “Daily Express” said. “ D . aily Telegraph” said that President Eisenhower was known to have a burning interest m trying to reach some arrangements with Russia which would help to stave off the danger of a “miscalculated” or “inadvertent” major war.

That was why he had proposed the open skies plan in 1955. President Eisenhower might have come to the conclusion that his aim was in danger of becoming submerged beneath a mass of technical arguments at the London talks.

The Moscow Radio said that the by Mr Dulles had caused the West to speculate’ just what his intervention would lead to. “It is a notable fact that the British are harbouring no illusions in this respect,” the radio said.

“Mr Dulles has shown himself to be opposed to an effective agreement on disarmament and the British, like the rest of the world, want such an agreement. “In his speech last week, Mr Dulles virtually came out against the idea of proportional disarmament.”

That was the reason for the anxiety in Britain, Moscow Radio claimed.