“Macmillan Challenged By Adenauer”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 9

“Macmillan Challenged By Adenauer”

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, January 12.

The statement by the West German Chancellor (Dr. Adenauer) that there must be no change in the status of Berlin at the summit conference in May is seen by British diplomatic correspondents as a direct challenge to the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan).

“In my view,” said Dr. Adenauer during a visit to Berlin, “nothing could be worse than to start again where we left off at Geneva.” The West’s final compromise at Geneva last summer was to offer to limit the strength of tbeir military garrisons in Berlin and to stop the city being used as a base for anti-Communist activity In return the Russians should guarantee the West’s free access Dr. Adenauer said this proposal had been rejected by the Russians and was now dead. He never liked the idea from the start although his advisers accepted it at Geneva. He is also reported to have said “no concessions must be given to the Russians. Giving in to Mr Khrushchev’s demands

would be capitulation and would mean new demands.”

“Any change in Berlin could only bring changes for the worse and that is what Mr Khrushchev wants,” has been taken as a “biting” reference to Mr Macmillan. Dr. Adenauer also claimed he had the support of three Western Powers for his views.

The “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent says: “Dr. Adenauer’s statement takes matters no further. Britain and the United States consider that improved agreements can be negotiated with Russia over Berlin and they are determined to try. Two majoi Western Powers agree for the time being that there should be no change in the legal status of Berlin but they would prefer to have the access arrangements codified with Russia in such a way that the Berlin problem ceases to be something Moscow can use a’ will to bring pressure on the West. “Progress towards this was made at the Geneva conference last summer At the summit conference in May Britain and the United States will try to take this progress further. Dr. Adenauer has ceased to be a decisive factor in this argument.” The “News Chronicle’s” correspondent says: “Dr. Adenauer’s statement on Berlin is a direct challenge to Mr Macmillan, who

holds that an interim agreement on Berlin was almost reached at Geneva last summer and that the threads should be taken up again at the summit.

"Dr. Adenauer’s claim that he has full Western support for his views is therefore exaggerated ” The “Daily Express” correspondent says a “deeply embar rassed” Foreign Office refused t< comment on Dr. Adenauer’s statement.

“But unofficially Whitehall diplomatic circles firmly insisted that the British position remains exactly as it was at the end of the Foreign Ministers’ conference That position, publicly reiterated since by Mr Selwyn Lloyd, is tha? Berlin offers the best prospect for concrete agreement at the summit next May” It is based on the Foreign Secretary’s conviction that when th'e Foreign Minis ters left Geneva differences ovet Berlin had narrowed to a ooint where they were readily negotiable

"Dr. Adenauer’s speech showthat in spite of all efforts of tht Western Powers to get agreed strategy for the summit, including ♦he meeting of the heads of the Big Four in Paris just before Christmas, he remains openly opposed to the British view. It once more unveils a split in the Western camp which must be repaired before the Western Big Three meet Mr Khrushchev,” he says.