TALKS WITH RUSSIANS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28920, 13 June 1959, Page 13

TALKS WITH RUSSIANS

“Need To Devise New Methods”

(Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 12. The Geneva Foreign Ministers’ conference had shown once again the need to devise new ways of negotiating with the Soviet Unicm, the chief Washington correspondent of the “New York Times,” James Reston, said today. “For than a month now,” he wrote, “the new Secretary of State, Mr Christian A. Herter, has been involved with Mr Andrei Gromyko, the Soviet Foreign Minister, in a tiresome and fruitless argument that could have been carried bn by any other experienced official. “Of the 51 days he (Mr Herter) has been in office. 36 have been spent out of the country “While this has been a useful exercise in showing him how the Russians operate it has certainly not proved the value of Foreign Ministers’ meetings.” Reston said diplomats believed that a way of negotiating must be found without “paralysing Western diplomacy in other important fields.” The best way to do this, he suggested, would be to revive the authority of the United States Ambassador in Moscow. If this were ruled out, it might Jbe possible to create a “team of negotiators whose principal job would be to negotiate with the Communists.”

NICARAGUAN UNREST

Surrender By Rebels

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) MANAGUA (Nicaragua), June 12. Forty-six ragged and hungry young rebels, the core of the latest uprising in Nicaragua, surrended unconditionally yesterday to the forces of President Luis Somoza Some others vowed to fight on in

the jungle. •’ The surrender was a big setback *• for the opposition seeking to overthrow the 23-year-old Somoza regime. ~ v lt looks like it will be Somoza forever,” a prominent Opposition leader said on hearing the news. j The rebels are being brought

from the jungles in southern 7, about 100 miles from the capital. They surrended to the National - Guard of General Anastasio Somoza, brother of the President, > after the Government refused , their request for safe conduct out of the country Another rebel band vas said

to be still operating in the north- £ west A Government communique said troops had clashed with this -*■ group, killing one and injuring «, others.

The communique added that this band could not be considered a » military threat.

Mr Lloyd might try to get the discussions back on the rails today by outlining what possible room, if any, was now left for real negotiations, conference sources said.

Yesterday, the United States Secretary of State (Mr Christian Herter) warned the Russians that their new one-year ultimatum on Berlin had seriously damaged hopes for an East-West cold war settlement.

Mr Herter was reported to have told Mr Gromyko that he was ready to fly back home at a few hours’ notice if the Russians stood by their threat. He said, however, that the West would not break off the conference now because it still has hopes of salvaging peace.

The West reached its decision just before Radio Moscow broadcast a speech by the Soviet Premier (Mr Nikita Khrushchev) refusing to back down from Russia’s ultimatum. Later today, Mr Lloyd and Mr Maurice Couve de Murville, of France, will fly to London and Paris for discussions with their Governments on whether the conference has any prospects of success.

While in London, Mr Lloyd Is expected to have talks with his Prime Minister. Mr Macmillan. He is due back on Monday. Observers believed the British statesman would review the prospects under the worsened atmosphere of holding a summit conference later in the summer. The communists maintain there is no crisis and that Mr Gromyko put forward his proposals as a negotiable basis for discussions, not as an ultimatum.

Mr Gromyko is expected to expand this approach in a speech at today ? s plenary session.