Soviet Diplomatic Drive For Berlin Talks

Press, Volume C, Issue 29669, 13 November 1961, Page 13

Soviet Diplomatic Drive For Berlin Talks

(A’.Z. Press - Assn.—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12. The Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev) had apparently, started a new diplomatic drive to push the Western Powers into Berlin negotiations on Soviet terms, the Associated Press’s chief diplomatic correspondent reported today. The Soviet leader evidently hoped to do so without offering any real concessions in his stated demands for a Berlin settlement, the correspondent said. That was the underlying

significance seen by Washington officials in a new round of East-West diplomatic activity in Moscow last week, although Washington authorities were still puzzled by some aspects of the situation. Official reports now have been received in Washington on talks by Western Ambassadors with Mr Khrushchev and with the Soviet Foreign Minister (Mr Andrei Gromyko). Officials said an analysis showed that basic Soviet policy in the Berlin crisis was unchanged. Mr Khrushchev was reported to have told the German Ambassador to Moscow (Mr Hans Kroll) on Thursday, that the Soviet Government was fully intent on having West Berlin converted into a “free city” with an independent political status and with only economic ties with West Germany. The Soviet "free city” plan reported must also provide for replacement of Western troops in West Berlin by United Nations or neutral forces—or else for the addition of a small contingent of Soviet troops to the Western troops in the city. Washington officials said both these conditions were wholly unacceptable. Report On Talks Mr Kroll reported on his talk with Mr Khrushchev to his United States. British and French colleagues in Moscow on Friday. Yesterday the West German Ambassador to Washington (Mr Wilhelm Ore we) gave the Assistant Secretary of State (Mr Foy Kohler) and

his British and French colleagues a report on the KrollKhrushchev meeting. Press dispatches from Moscow on Thursday, after the Kroll-Khrushchev meeting, reported that the Soviet Government had put forth a new four-point plan for a Berlin settlement. State Department officials said no such plan had been presented to the United States Government by the Soviet Government nor had the United States been advised that any other Western Power had received such a concrete proposition. Reports from the United States Ambassador (Mr Llewellyn Thompson) it was understood, gave no indication whatever that Mr Khrushchev had outlined any concrete proposition. The reported Soviet plan was said last week to involve toe following suggestions:— Britain, the United States, France and Russia should agree on a new status for West Berlin, guaranteeing complete freedom for West Berliners and free access for the West to Berlin. The Russians should sign a separate agreement with East Germany stressing East Germany’s duty to recognise West Berlin. The Western Powers should sign an agreement recognising the sovereignty of East Germany, and West Germany should concur in this recognition. Agreement on these points should be worked out before Russia and East Germany sign a peace treaty.