SUMMIT TALKS VENUE

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28492, 23 January 1958, Page 11

SUMMIT TALKS VENUE

Canada’s Offer To Russia

ffl-Z- Prul Auoeuitton—CopVTigMf (Rec. 8 pan.) OTTAWA, January 21. The Prime Minister, Mr John Diefenbaker, has told the Soviet Premier, Marshal Nikolai Bulganin, that if the major powers decide to hold an East-West summit meeting, they would be welcome to convene in Canada. “I can assure you that when the participants decide that they are ready to call such a meeting and should they decide to hold it in Canada, they will be welcome,” the Prime Minister said in his reply to Marshal Bulganin’s letter of December 13 proposing a summit conference. The reply was tabled today in the House of Commons.

Mr Diefenbaker said that Canada would welcome a sign of Russian willingess to permit freedom of movement for persons who wished to leave the U.S.S.R. and join relatives in Canada, as well as for any persons in Russia who hold Canadian citizenship.

He said Canadian businessmen might decide to visit Russia to promote an expansion of trade between the two countries. “I can assure you that the Canadian Government would be willing to be associated with such an undertaking,” Mr Diefenbaker said.

Marshal Bulganin’s call for an East-West meeting would receive his immediate support "if there were adequate assurance that beneficial results could be expected,” the letter said. “Past experience has shown, however, that such meetings, if they are to be fruitful, must be carefully prepared through diplomatic and other channels.” The Prime Minister rebuffed Bulganin’s allegation that N.A.T.O is an alliance bent on aggression.

“The Canadian Government wishes to emphasise that the organisation has no aggressive intentions whatsoever. If it had, Canada would dissociate itself from it immediately,” Mr Diefenbaker said.