U.S.-SOVIET TALKS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28983, 26 August 1959, Page 13

U.S.-SOVIET TALKS

No Objection By Germany

BONN, August 24.

The West German Secretary of State at the West German Foreign Office (Dr. Hilger van Scherpenberg) said today his country “has every reason to welcome the forth-coming So-viet-American exchange of views.

“There is no doubt that these talks can lead to an international relaxation of tension which will have nothing but advantages for the German people," he said in a newspaper statement.

The statement published two days before President Eisenhower arrives in Bonn for talks with the Chancellor. Dr Adenauer, said there would certainly be “no agreement b tween Washington and Moscow based on the division of the world into two spheres of power. “Such an agreement would not only be contrary to the vital interests of the American people and its allies, but it would also be incompatible with the traditional political princip'es of the two great American parties,” it added.

"The journey of the American President to Bonn, London and Paris would be unnecessary if it had only the object of reassuring his country’s allies about the future line of American foreign policy.” The statement said it was “quite conceivable” that the Eisen-hower-Khrushchev talks would lead to a renewal of disarmament talks within the framework of the United Nations. From this arose an obligation for the European allies to contribute their own ideas to the meeting’s success.

The statement added: “There has never been any doubt that President Eisenhower will start his talks with the Soviet Prime Minister backed by the complete trust of his Allies. It also does not appear to be necessary to keep on conjuring up a new picture of Western solidarity. The Berlin crisis has been sufficient proof of the firmness of the foundation on which the Atlantic community rests.’

Dr van Scherpenberg added: "During the preparatory talks, the Federal Government will, within its capabilities, support all measures which could lead to a genuine relaxation of tension in the international situation.

“It will be even more ready to do this when it can be sure that there will be no encroachment on the vita] interests of the divided German people in the forthcoming talks between the two world Powers.”

Mr Casey in Paris.— The Australian External Affairs Minister (Mr Richard Casey) has arrived in Paris from Rome and has had talks with the French Foreign Minister (Mr Couve de Murville* Mr Casey, who will spend four days in Paris, will also confer with President de Gaulle.—Paris, August 2i.