NIXON’S VIEW OF SUMMIT TALKS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28541, 21 March 1958, Page 11

NIXON’S VIEW OF SUMMIT TALKS

“Russia Blocking The Road” (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) CHICAGO, March 19. The United States Vice-President, Mr Richard Nixon, said tonight that Soviet leaders were “blocking the road” to an EastWest summit conference in spite of all their public appeals for a meeting. He challenged them to “prove their dedication to peace” by agreeing that “the substance as well aa the form” of items proposed for a summit conference agenda should be discussed in preparatory meetings. The Vice-President made the statements in a speech before the 1958 National Nuclear Energy Congress. He said that a summit conference which failed would increase rather than lessen international tensions, and he declared that a conference preceded by inadequate preparations was “doomed to fail.”

In New York the Soviet Ambassador to the United States, Mr Mikhail Menshikov, said it would be “Very desirable” for President Eisenhower and Mr Khrushchev, the Soviet Communist Party leader, to meet and discuss world problems, with no other nations represented

In an interview with the New York “World-Telegram,” Mr Menshikov said he thought the Soviet Union w'ould welcome bilateral talks with the United States, although probably not as replacing the multi-nation summit conference for which Moscow has been pressing. Although President Eisenhower said recently that he would prefer a meeting in the United States if a summit conference proved to be a long affair, United States officials have been worried by the security aspect of a visit to the United States by Mr Khrushchev and Marshal Bulganin. Guarding the Soviet leaders would present many problems. In addition to security considerations. some United States Government officials were said to have been opposed to giving Mr Khrushchev and Marshal Bulganin the opportunity of visiting the United States for the- first time because of the propaganda advantage they might make of such a trip. President Eisenhower and the Secretary of State, Mr Dulles, discussed United States strategy moves in the East-West debate over a summit conference during a morning White House meeting. Mr Dulles also reported on disarmament strategy, and his trip to the South-east Asia Treaty Alliance meeting at Manila.

The United Press said the President arid Mr Dulles were represented as being determined' to hold out for proof that the Soviet Union would agree to a limited disarmament agreement before agreeing to a summit conference. They also would insist that German reunification be discussed 'at any summit parley. The proof of Soviet willingness to talk about disarmament and Germany could come through diplomatic negotiations or a Foreign Ministers’ meeting, or both, sc far as the Administration now was concerned, the news agency said.