Soekarno Urges U.S. And Russia To Meet

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29330, 8 October 1960, Page 13

Soekarno Urges U.S. And Russia To Meet

(Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, October 6. President Soekarno, of Indonesia, said today after a 45-minute conference with President Eisenhower that he still wanted him to meet Mr Khrushchev.

President Soekarno was one of the five neutral leaders who helped draw up a resolution in the United Nations urging President Eisenhower and Mr Khrushchev to meet.

They withdrew the resolution late last night after it had been amended, saying it no longer represented their views. Reporters asked Dr. Soekarno whether, in view of his call for an Eisenhower-Khrushchev meeting, he would be prepared to meet the Prime Minister of the Netherlands to discuss the question of Dutch-administered West New Guinea. Dr. Soekarno shook his head and replied: “No, no.” He said he and President Eisenhower had not discussed the question of West New Guinea. The leader of the Indonesian Communist Party was among members of Dr. Soekarno’s party introduced to President Eisenhower.

Dr. Soekarno flew back to New York and spent about 40 min-

utes with- Mr Khrushchev at the Soviet United Nations headquarters. After the Indonesian President left, Mr Khrushchev went to the hotel of Mr Nehhu, who,, was his dinner host. Dr. Soekarno said after leaving Mr Khrushchev’s residence: “Little positive action has yet resulted from the current activities of the United Nations.” He said he was "distressed that the atmosphere of the cold war and static-cold war positions have rooted themselves so firmly in the United Nations.’’ The events of the last week “strengthen my conviction that the structure and basis of the United Nations need to be revised and modernised. To do this would at least remove the organisational basis for the intrusion of the cold war into the United Nations." Answering questions, Dr. Soekarno said the site of the United Nations should be changed. He felt very strongly on this and •suggested that perhaps Geneva would be a better site for the world organisation. But Indonesia was “mpst certainly still determined to struggle for a realistic and effective United Nations." Dr. Soekarno refused to give any details of his discussions with Mr Khrushchev, merely saying they had “talks, just talks.” Mr Khrushchev, who stood by the side of .the Indonesian President, also refused to give any details of their talks.