GERMAN TREATY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29535, 9 June 1961, Page 3

GERMAN TREATY

“Intention Of Russia” (N Z.PJI.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. June 7. Mr Khrushchev had told President Kennedy in Vienna that he intended—come what may—to sign a separate peace treaty with East Germany before the end of the year, the “Daily Express” reported. All reserved powers on West Berlin and the Allied routes from West Germany East Germany would automatically be handed over to the East German Government. But. the report said, the Russian leader did not give any hint that any immediate crisis would be caused by stopping Allied road or air traffic, or demanding that Western garrisons be withdrawn. The newspaper said Mr Khrushchev had repeated his intention to a high Austrian political leader at the State banquet given the two leaders. It was believed that the treaty would not be signed until after the West German elections in September. Mr Kennedy’s advisers believed that a separate treaty would be the first step in a series of pressure moves on the Berlin and German problem, the newspaper said. It was thought that Mr

Khrushchev’ wanted to put himself into a strong negotiating position in any future conference on the German problem as a whole. Other moves would include increasing pressure for a summit meeting on Germany.