Moscow Move Awaited

Press, Volume C, Issue 29588, 10 August 1961, Page 13

Moscow Move Awaited

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

NEW YORK, August 9. The U.S. Administration appeared to have decided that Moscow must make the first move in the diplomatic manoeuvring over Berlin if the issue was to be resolved by negotiations, a “New York Times” correspondent said today. The Washington correspondent. Max Frankel, said Monday's televised speech by the Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev) struck Washington officials as a careful and deliberate imitation of President Kennedy’s own television discussion on Berlin last month.

Both men vowed firmness, both pleaded for a peaceful solution and neither offered

a hint as to what might be negotiable. fit Washington’s view, the first hint must come from Moscow, Frankel said. President Kennedy deferred comment until his press conference tomorrow. The advice of his foreign policy experts appeared to be against any revelation of concessions that the West might be prepared to make, Frankel said. The experts contended that since Moscow wanted to alter and codify the German situation, it must bring forth more acceptable suggestions. In the meantime, the allies would continue on forging a firm union, the officials said. The correspondent said that Washington officials felt that Mr Khrushchev was concerned primarily with the instability of the East Communist regime. He was thought to be seeking, first. Western participation or, at the least, acquiesence in a treaty that would recognise the sovereignty and existing borders of East Germany. Officials believed that if the Soviet leader gained satisfaction on this point, he would be quite “sincere" in guaranteeing Western access to West Berlin. He would not, however, tolerate the mass movement of refugees from East Berlin or other "subversive" activities. Disarmament Talka Yesterday, Senator Hubert Humphrey suggested that the West concentrate on negotiating with the Soviet Union on disarmament but not on Berlin or Germany. “We need to widen our focus and broaden the base of discussions," he said at a press conference. “Berlin is not negotiable and Germany is not negotiable, but perhaps we can negotiate with them (the Russians) on disarmament." Senator Humphrey, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Mr

Khrushchev might be using the Berlin issue as a means of gaining Western approval for the permanent division of Germany. He also advanced the belief that the Soviet leader was more concerned with solidifying his position in Eastern Europe than he was with Berlin. Trade With Butete United State* policies concerning trade with the Soviet Union and Soviet bloo countries in Eastern Europe “must keep flexible.” the United States Secretary of Commerce (Mr Luther ■ Hodgee) told a press conference in Washington yesterday. Asked whether a review of United States trade policy with the Soviet Union was being undertaken since President Kennedy’s speech on Berlin on July 25. Mr Hodges replied: "No, but the temper of the people has changed concerning trade with Russia." The United State* State Department on Friday revealed that the idea of curtailing United States trade with the Soviet bloc, in retaliation for threats to West Berlin, had been considered But it had been decided that to end or significantly modify trad* with European Communist countries “at this time" would not be in the interests of the United States or of world peace. Flexible Polley Mr Hodges said he had talked with the Secretary of State (Mr Dean Rusk) on August 4 and they had agreed that United States trade policy concerning the Soviet Union “must keep flexible and that the United States was holding things in status.” He said he would meet Mr Rusk again when the Secretary of State returned from the Paris Foreign Ministers* conference. Asked whether it was possible that trade with the Soviet bloc would be tightened, he replied: "Ye»."