EISENHOWER BEGINS MISSION TO EUROPE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28984, 27 August 1959, Page 13

EISENHOWER BEGINS MISSION TO EUROPE

Momentous Attempt To End Cold War

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) WASHINGTON, August 26. President Eisenhower took off for Bonn before dawn today at the start of a 10-day round of talks with his major partners in the Western Alliance as a prelude to his momentous conferences in Washington next month with Mr Khrushchev. Diplomatic observers believe that President Eisenhower will ask Britain, France and other Western leaders to join in a new appeal to Mr Khrushchev for serious East-West negotiations. It is the consensus of White House observers that European leaders will see a confident, forceful President, who has plainly dedicated himself to a great effort during the remaining 18 months of his term of office to trying to find a way to end the cold war.

Influential United States newspapers described President Eisenhower’s journey to Western Europe as perhaps the most decisive venture of his career. The New York “Herald-Tri-bune” said Mr Eisenhower’s trip was to inaugurate a new phase of American leadership in world affairs, but the task might not be all plain sailing. “His journey is an extraordinary feat of personal diplomacy, but it goes beyond that,” the “Herald-Tribune” said.

“For in his talks with the statesmen of Western Europe, no less than in his meeting with Mr Khrushchev, he is assuming an authority no-one else is equal to.

“The President’s week in Western Europe may not be particularly smooth sailing. Originally it was designed as a public demonstration of solidarity among the allies before the Soviet Premier visited Washington. “Instead, Mr Eisenhower will be confronted with a series of delicate situations as he travels from Bonn to London and from London to Paris. “We have great confidence that the stature of his leadership and his sincerity as a statesman will bring about the necessary understanding of mutual obligation and mutual trust.” The “New York Times" noted that Mr Eisenhower reiterated at his press conference yesterday that his purpose was “peace with honour and justice.” It added: "By repudiating once again any insinuations that he has softened his policy toward Communist imperialism, he pointedly ruled out any appeasement and declared that he will seek to recement Western unity in opposing any aggression by force if necessary, and to that end preserve Western defensive strength.” West Germany’s 83-year-old Chancellor. Dr. Konrad Adenauer, will be on the tarmac at the

Wahn airport near Bonn to welcome Mr Eisenhower at the start of his consultations. The President will arrive in Bonn in a Boeing 707 airliner from Washington for a day of talks with the Chancellor before going to London to see the British Prime Minister, Mr Macmillan.

Later he will talk with the French President, General Charles de Gaulle and the Italian Premier, Mr Antonio Segni, in Paris.

At the airport, where three helicopters will be kept in waiting at the disposal of the President and his party, special stands have been built to accommodate between 600. and 700 reporters and news and television cameramen expected to cover the arrival. Last night, the press service of Dr, Adenauer’s Christian Democratic Party said of Mr Eisenhower’s visit: “Any further yield to the Soviet demands could only be at the cost of freedom and security. Therefore the Federal Government will hold on to its policy which has proved its worth.”

This policy, it said, was to reach a solution of outstanding EastWest problems through a “.balanced and controlled disarmament.”