CONFERENCE AT GENEVA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28774, 20 December 1958, Page 2

CONFERENCE AT GENEVA

“West Used Talks For Information” (N.Z. Press Association— Copi/ripMi GENEVA, December 18. Mr Vassily Kuznetsov, the Russian First-Deputy Foreign Minister, told a press conference today that the West had turned the prevention of surprise attack conference "into a means of preparing a surprise attack.” The Western delegations wanted to establish control posts on Soviet soil to help them gather military information which would be of help to them in their "policy of strength,” he said. The conference adjourned today without fixing a date for renewal of the talks. The conference has been deadlocked since it began on November 10, on what should constitute its agenda. Mr Kuznetsov told reporters that the West took a completely negative position at the talks but the Eastern side was so convinced of the necessity of a solution that it wished to continue the meeting without any Christmas or New Year recess. The Western side insisted on “an interruption.” The Eastern side then suggested the talks should resume on January 5. He added: "Unfortunately, the Western side refused to fix a date.” The British United Press said both sides expressed the hope that talks could begin again as soon as possible. The 10 nations concerned agreed to report to their Governments on the talks.

Officials said there was general agreement that the two sides would work during the adjournment through diplomatic channels to agree on a frame of reference that would make resumption of the talks worthwhile.