SUMMIT TALKS PREFERRED

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28835, 4 March 1959, Page 13

SUMMIT TALKS PREFERRED

Soviet Note To West

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Mar. 3. Russia’s new Note urged an East-West meeting next month in Vienna or Geneva—preferably a summit meeting, but a Foreign Ministers’ conference if the West insisted, with Poland and Czechoslovakia participating. The Note, handed to Britain. France and the United States, said a German peace treaty and the Berlin question would be discussed, and Russia wanted both East and West Germany to attend the East-West conference, at whichever level it was held. A two or three month limit on the duration of the Foreign Ministers’ conference was proposed. The Note reiterated Russia’s desire to see a free and demilitarised Western Berlin guaranteed by all the great Powers and expressed readiness to discuss the question of guarantees The conclusion of a German treaty would open up such a fusibility. Under the peace treaty, the German Democratic Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany would assume equal obligations which would preclude any possibility of the rebirth of German militarism and which would ensure conditions for the peaceful development of both German States, freeing the peoples of Europe from the oppressive throat of war. “Regarding the statement contained in the United States Note of February IB that they are prepared to take 'all necessary steps' to maintain the occupation of Western Berlin, the Soviet Government recalls that the sides who are being threatened with ’all means’ have at their disposal all that is necessary to stand Up for themselves and to give a rebuff to any aggression. "If behind the threats being disseminated in the West them is really concealed a deaim to resort to arms, then anyone who decides upon this course must take upon himself a heavy reaponsi-. bility before mankind for the unleasing of a new war. “The Soviet Government statea that today more than at any time it is essential to take effective measures to avoid the dangerous course of events. "For this reason, the Soviet Government returns to its offer of a meeting of State leaden at the highest level,” the Note said.