“Show-Down” Likely At Arms Talks

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28371, 2 September 1957, Page 11

“Show-Down” Likely At Arms Talks

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 31. The United States is getting ready foL an early “show-down” meeting with the Soviet Union on disarmament prospects, United States officials were quoted as saying today. Mr Harold Stassen, the leading United States disarmament adviser, was reported to believe that the “official” Moscow answer to the West’s 11-point disarmament plan may be forthcoming on Tuesday or Wednesday. Mr Stassen flew home from the London disarmament meeting after the Soviet delegate, Mr Valerin Zorin, sharply attacked the West’s “package” disarmament move. Mr Stassen conferred at the White House with President Eisenhower and the Secretary of State, Mr Dulles, shortly after arriving yesterday.

United States officials said that if Moscow showed any interest in Western proposals, the disarmament negotiations would continue or go into a temporary recess. They said that if Moscow followed up its recent “tough” antidisarmament talks, the London talks might adjourn for months. In spite of Mr Zorin’s attitude at the last London meeting on Thursday, Mr Stassen said he still believed the Soviet was negotiating seriously on disarmament. He preferred to regard Mr Zorin’s remarks as preliminary pending further reaction next week after the Kremlin had studied the Western plan. Mr Stassen’s somewhat optimistic view was reported by no means unanimous in Washington. Many officials believed Russia was trying to end the disarmament talks as soon as •it could find a way to /tio so gracefully. This would fit in with a general hardening of the Soviest foreign policy line on GermaA, Middle East and other key East-West issues, in addition to disarmament.