CRUCIAL EAST-WEST TALKS TODAY

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29010, 26 September 1959, Page 13

CRUCIAL EAST-WEST TALKS TODAY

Friendly Atmosphere For Camp David Meeting (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, September 25. Mr Khrushchev will today get down to the crucial part of his United States visit—his cold war discussions with President Eisenhower. Both the President and Mr Khrushchev have set aside a good part of the day for talks with their advisers before their initial conference tonight at secluded Camp David, Maryland. Mr Khrushchev, obviously in good humour from the reception he got on his trans-continental tour, gave every indication that the toplevel talks would get jinder way in a friendly atmosphere, United Press International said.

It was obvious that the arms issue would be a chief topic between Mr Eisenhower and Mr Khrushchev, both of whom had described it as the key problem ir the cold war, the agency said Other subjects were expected to be the German problem, EastWest trade, peaceful coexistence, more person-to-person contacts and Communist China. Mr Khrushchev cancelled a scheduled visit to the National Institutes of Health to spend the morning at the Soviet Embassy oreparing for his discussions with Mr Eisenhower. His only scheduled engagement is a lunch with the Secretary of State, Mi Christian Herter, at Anderson House, a private club. About 20 to 30 other guests are to attend Mr Eisenhower has called a mid-morning meeting with his advisers at the White House to go over the subjects that are expected to come up at Camp David Summoned to the conference were Mr Herter, the chief United Nations delegate, Mr Henry Cabot Lodge, and the American Ambassador to Moscow. Mr Llewellyn Thompson. The two leaders will leave Washington by car or helicopter in the evening for Camp David. 60 miles to the north and nestled in the Catoctin Mountains near Thurmont, Maryland. There, in the seclusion of the war-time hideaway that President Franklin D. Roosevelt called “Shangri-la.” they will begin the talks that could determine the future course of East-West relations.

Neither nation is expected to change its position merely as a result of the conversations, but Mr Eisenhower has said he hoped the talks would give an insight into what each man had in his mind and thus determine what issues were open to negotiation

At Camp David, named by Mr Eisenhower for |jis grandson, the tightest security in the history of the Presidential retreat was in effect. Marine sharpshooters and highly-trained dogs patrolled the high, electrically-charged fence surrounding the 134-acre establishment.

The President and the Premier will stay in Mr Eisenhower’s cottage, known as Aspen House, perched on a high hill overlooking a peaceful valley. Mr Herter and the Soviet Foreign Minister. Mr Andrei Gromyko, also will stay there. Mr Eisenhower and Mr Khrush-

chev will remain at Camp David until noon on Sunday. The Soviet leader will return to Washington for a press conference and a nation-wide television address before taking off on Sunday night for Moscow. No ‘‘Kitchen Debate”

At a reception at the Soviet Embassy Mr Khrushchev met Mr Richard Nixon, but the two men failed to continue the famous “kitchen” debate they held in Moscow in July. “You have too much energy.” Mr Nixon told the Soviet leader as he shook his hand warmly. “I have some in reserve, too,” Mr Khrushchev replied with a grin. He then made a gesture with his hand at knee level, and added: “We always say we have so much below the ground.” “Like an iceberg,” Mr Nixon quipped, adding quickly: “But I don’t mean policy.” Mr Khrushchev replied: “We are completely in the open as far as politics are concerned. You can look from different angles.”

Abruptly, Mr Nixon changed the subject, asking: “How did you like the corn (in Iowa)?” “Very good,” the Soviet leader replied. “But of course we have corn like that too, so you mustn't think your corn is better than anyone else’s.”

Mr Nixon answered, apparently fot the benefit of listening reporters: “The chairman and I always agree that we are not better than anyone else. We respect each other.” “That is right,” Mr Khrushchev said.

To a reporter who asked whether he was not tired and glad that his eight-day cross-country tour was over, Mr Khrushchev replied: “Everything must have an end, good things and bad things, and my trip was a good trip I enjoyed it very much.”

Asked whether he would like to stay a little longer in the United States, he said: “The guest should always leave five minutes before the host expects him to.”