EASING WORLD TENSIONS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28836, 5 March 1959, Page 11

EASING WORLD TENSIONS

New Round Of Talks For Macmillan

(NJi. Press Association-Copyright) (Rec. 1130 p.m.) LONDON, March 4. Continuing his objective of easing world tensions, Mr Macmillan will visit Western capitals this month to discuss his talks with the Soviet leaders on the German question.

Mr Macmillan, who returned to London yesterday after his 10-day visit to Russia, has accepted President Eisenhower’s invitation for Washington talks on his Russian visit and is expected to fly there in a fortnight.

Next Monday and Tuesday he will go ’to Paris for talks and on Wednesday and Thursday he will be in Bonn.

Mr Macmillan will report to the Commons today on his trip, which the British press today described as a worthwhile and successful prelude to future East-West negotiations in the bid to settle major problems, particularly that of Germany.

Most leading articles reflected a strong, feeling that Mr Macmillan had been efficient and sincere in his exploratory rpission. “The Times” said Mr Khrushchev “can now be in no doubt where the British Government stands.”

In a Rome newspaper, an article headlined “Bravo Macmillan,” the Italian Social Democrat leader, Mr Giuseppe Sagagat, said the British Prime Minister had given Russia “a lesson in good manners” and won an important concession in the project for a Foreign Ministers’ conference.

The newspaper, “Messaggero,” said: “The Atlantic allies can see reason for optimism in the British ‘reconnaissance’ but basically the terms of the problem remain unchanged.” “B Populo,” organ of the Christian Democrat Party, said Mr Macmillan had given proof of great courage and had “undoubtedly helped to ease East-West tension.”

In Paris, President de Gaulle and the West German Chancellor, Dr. Konrad Adenauer, met today to review the East-West situation in the light of Monday’s Soviet Notes to the West and Mr Macmillan’s tour.

Political observers expect the two statesmen to harmonise French and German views on Berlin and the German question. It will be their third informal meeting since last September.