U.S. VISIT BY GROMYKO

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28906, 28 May 1959, Page 13

U.S. VISIT BY GROMYKO

Possible Talks With President (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, May 26. The decision of the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Andrei Gromyko, to attend the funeral ol Mr John Foster Dulles, aroused speculation today that he migh. seek an interview with President Eisenhower. Officials declined to comment on what the President’s reaction might be, but the opinion among diplomatic observers was that he would consent.

Mr Gromyko will be in Washington on the very day originally named by Mr Khrushchev, for the withdrawal of Allied forces from Berlin.

Mr Christian Herter, the Secretary of State, is almost certain to call at the White House to report to the President on the Geneva talks before he returns tn Europe on Thursday. He may also want to take Mr Selwyn Lloyd, the British Foreign Secretary, and Mr Maurice Couve de Murville, the French Foreign Minister, along with him. Dr. Konrad Adenauer, the German Chancellor, who will also bp present at Mr Dulles’s funeral, is also expected to call on the President.

In these circumstances, it was believed reasonable to suppose that Mr Gromyko would similarly seek an interview. Some observers doubted* however, whether any serious discussion would take place between the President and Mr Gromyko on East-West problems and the possibility of a summit meeting. The President, it was felt, could Leg off any such business talk on the ground that he was still mourning the death of his old friend. Mr Dulles.