Meeting On Germany Sought By Russia

Press, Volume C, Issue 29537, 12 June 1961, Page 13

Meeting On Germany Sought By Russia

IXZ.P.A -Reuter—Copyright)

MOSCOW, June 11.

The Soviet Union last night proposed a conference to solve the German and Berlin questions “now, without any delay.” The proposal was made in Memoranda —on Germany and a nuclear test ban treaty—handed to President Kennedy by Mr Khrushchev in Vienna and published by the Soviet news agency Tass.

Mr Khrushchev told President Kennedy that if the Western allies continued to refuse to sign a peace treaty with the two Germanies, he would sign one with East Germany. West Berlin should be made a free city in which the Western Powers would lose their occupation rights.

The 11,040-man Western Allied garrison in West Berlin would be reduced to a “symbolic eon tin - rent" coupled with United Nations-directed neutral troops "as a guarantee for the free city.” The Memoranda said a Rus-sian-East German peace treaty would mean the end of the occupation regime in West Berlin and that questions regarding communicat:on links with the city would not be solvable except by agreements with East Germany. If the West was not prepared to sign a German peace treaty, then a "temporary settlement" could be made for a “certain period.” “The Soviet Union Government considers a deadline of not more than six months sufficient for such negotiations.” Russia, it said, did not aim a’ damaging the interests of Western powers in Europe and did not propose to change anything in Germany or in West Berlin in favour of any state. Russia called for talks between East and West Germany and said Russia, the United States, Britain and France should call on them to agree on all questions regarding the peace treaty and Berlin. Nuclear Tests On nuclear test talks, Russia said it would be better to begin with the question of "complete and general disarmament." The Powers taking part in the Geneva nuclear talks "are at present f.nding it difficult to unify their views,” it said. Russia said she would agree "without reserve" to all Western proposals on banning nuclear tests if the West accepted the proposal for "complete and general disarmament.” The Memorandum referred to President Kennedy's statement to Congress that the conclusion of a workable nuclear test ban treaty is the first important step towards disarmament, and then added: “Let us solve both problems together." The Soviet Memorandum repeats at length the known Soviet position already taken at the Geneva talks, repeating Soviet calls for an early agreement on underground tests to be excluded from the main treaty, and for a threeman control council. The nuclear Memorandum about 300 wards—said: . . The Soviet Union is striving to reach an agreement banning all sorts of nuclear weapons tests everywhere and for ever. But the Soviet Union will never agree that the treaty on the banning of such tests should become an empty piece of paper, under the cover of which further nuclear tests could be carried out with the aim of supplementing it and creating new means of mass destruction.” Negotiations It went on to deal in detail with points still holding up the Geneva three-Powsr negotiations which began more than two and a half years ago and have continued ever since. Moratorium. ”... The Soviet Government is firmly convinced that the expiry of the time

limit of the moratorium should not automatically free the States concerned from the duty not to carry out further underground explosions." Control Questions. The Memorandum repeated the Soviet proposal for a three-man executive council to have supreme control consisting of one Eastern, one Western and one neutral member, a proposal designed to "exclude the possibility that any one side could gain an advantage.” Inspection Quotas. "Our proposal for carrying out three annual inspections respectively on the territories of Russia, the United States and Great Britain gives completely sufficient guarantees against violations of a nuclear test ban treaty. The demand made by the United States and Great Britain for an excessive number of inspections causes the suspicion that in this case thoughts of the formation of a genuine control are not foremost.” The Memorandum suggested that, because of the difficulties facing the nuclear talks, it would be better to begin with the question of general disarmament. Readiness The Memorandum repeated Soviet readiness to "agree without reserve to all proposals of the Western Powers if they accept the proposa' for complete and general disarmament , , . “The Soviet Union would in such a, case be prepared to sign a document in which the proposals of the Western Powers on banning of nuclear tests would be accepted. We would be able to take this step because under conditions of complete and general disarmament, the question of the security of States would be raised to another level. There would be no armies and no danger of one State attacking another ...” The memorandum on Germany said: “. . The Soviet Union is honestly striving to eliminate the causes which have resulted in tension between the Soviet Union and the United States and to move on to a constructive, friendly co-operation. The conclusion of a peace treaty with Germany would bring

i both countries considerably r closer to this goal." It suggested that the four - Powers call on the two Ger- : man States to agree on all ■ questions regarding a peace treaty and German reunifica- , tion, and said: "The four . Powers will undertake in ad- ' vance to recognise any agreement made by the two Ger- • man States.” ; The Soviet Union said it • would agree to “symbolic ‘ contingents of troops of the 1 United States. Britain, France ’ and the Soviet Union to be j stationed in West Berlin as 1 a guarantee for the free city. “She would also agree to - troop units of neutral count tries under the protectorate s of the United Nations.” Single Treaty If the two German States t were to agree, a single peace treaty would be agreed on ’ and signed. But if there 1 was disagreement "then measures will be taken to con- ? elude a peace treaty with I both German States or with ! one of them after the judgs ment of the interested ’ countries ” ’ The memorandum said the - Soviet Union was willing - "to bring a maximum of goodwill to reach mutual . agreement in the question of , a peace treaty." " It added: “If, however, the

United States has no understanding for the necessity of concluding a peace treaty, we would regret this, because we would have to sign a peace treaty, not with all States, but only with those who wish to sign it” The memorandum raid that for the sake of reaching agreement on a peace treaty. Russia "does not insist on the immediate withdrawal” of West Germany from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. It said: “Both German States could for a certain period remain after the conclusion of a peace treaty members of those military alignments to which they now belong.” It said the Soviet proposal did not link the conclusion of the peace treaty with the recognition of East Germany or West Germany by all parties to the treaty, adding: “To recognise or not to recognise one or another State is a matter for each government."