Ministers Agree On Berlin Talks

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 11

Ministers Agree On Berlin Talks

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, September 17. The Western “Big Four” Foreign Ministers agreed yesterday that a peaceful solution to the Berlin crisis can be achieved if both East and West will undertake discussions taking account of the interests of all concerned, reported the Associated Press.

They announced this in a communique issued after a three-day strategy session on the mounting crisis. The Western policy makers also announced agreement “that an effort should be made to ascertain if there exists a reasonable basis for negotiation with the Soviet Union.” The statement obviously referred to the plans of the United States Secretary of State (Mr Dean Rusk) to sound out the Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr Andrei Gromyko) at the United Nations General Assembly session starting in New York this week Communique Text The communique issued by the Foreign Ministers said: “The Foreign Ministers of France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the Federal Republic of Germany met in Washington on September 15 and 16 This meeting represents a further step in the process of continuing consultation among the four Powers designed to co-ordinate policies and actions to meet Soviet threats. “The Ministers discussed

the dangerous heightening of world tension brought about since their last meeting by Soviet unilateral actions in Berlin, such as those of August 13, and by the Soviet decision to resume extensive nuclear testing in the atmosphere “The Ministers reviewed the progress reports submitted to them on the political, economic and military measures which the four Powers are undertaking to meet the situation “The Ministers agreed that

a peaceful solution to the problem of Germany and Berlin can be achieved if both sides are prepared to undertake discussions which take account of the rights and interests of all concerned. “They agreed that an effort should be made to ascertain if there exists a reasonable basis for negotiations with the Soviet Union.

"This meeting will be followed by the normal process of consultation in the North Atlantic Council."