Pre-Geneva Talks Not Favoured

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 13

Pre-Geneva Talks Not Favoured

(N-Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 10 pjn.) WASHINGTON, June 30. The United States still believes it is doubtful whether it would be practical to hold a meeting of N.A.T.O. Foreign Ministers before the East-West talks resume in Geneva on July 13, a State Department spokesman said today. The spokesman, Mr Peter Tully, told reporters the question was under consideration at N.A.T.O. headquarters in Paris. Tie Belgian Charge d’Affaires, Mr Jean de Bassompierre, today called at the State Department and it was believed he presented his Government’s request for a meeting of the 15 N.A.T.O. Foreign Ministers. Belgium last week joined Italy in calling for such a meeting. At the week-end, a joint FrenchItalian communique suggested instead that the Italian Foreign Minister might join tht Big Three Western Foreign Ministers for a meeting at Geneva before the negotiations with the Soviet Union resumed. Pioneer Veteran Dies.—The small slowly-dwindling band of surviving members of the 1890 Pioneer Column to Southern Rhodesia has now dropped to four with the death of Mr Howard Albert Arnold, who has died tn Durban at the age of 92. Born in November, 1866, at Taunton, England. he fought in the Egyptian campaign in 1882 as a 16-year-old cadet, taking part- in the bombardment of Alexandria. He also served nine years in the Royal Navy.—Reuters.