West Accused Of “Falsehood”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29748, 15 February 1962, Page 7

West Accused Of “Falsehood”

(N Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright)

MOSCOW, February 14.

“Pravda,” the Soviet Communist Party newspaper, said yesterday that every step the British and United States Governments took on disarmament “reeks of falsehood.”

An article signed by “An Observer” said world opinion was seriously concerned at British and United States plans to carry out nuclear tests in the atmosphere and continue underground testing in Nevada with British participation. “The Governments of the United States and Britain, as can be seen, do not feel embarrassed calling on one hand for successful work by the United Nations disarmament committee of 18, and on the other speeding up by all means the armaments race, fanning war hysteria, increasing their armed forces and continuing nuclear tests,” tire article said.

“Where is the logic here? There is no logic. “Each step of the positions of the Governments of the United States and Britain reeks of falsehood.” “Critical Moment’’ The “Pravda” article said: “The Soviet Government is convinced that at this critical moment, when the Western Powers are pushing the pointer of the barometer of the international atmosphere towards ‘stormy’ and are threatening to unleash a fresh wave of the arms race by their action, special, extraordinary measures are called for to normalise the atmosphere. “This is why the Chairman of the USB.R. Council of Ministers, N. S. Khrushchev, has sent messages to the heads of Governments, States and countries represented in the 18-Power committee on disarmament proposing participation in the work of the committee which is due to meet in Geneva on March 14 this year. “The proposal by the head of the U.S.S.R. Government is dictated by the great concern of the ÜB.S.R. for the elimination of the threat of nuclear war, the maintenance and strengthening of world

peace, and it is a fresh clear expression of the policy of peaceful co-existence between States with differing social systems, conducted by the C.P.S.U (Soviet Communist Party) and the Soviet Government. . . . “Only participation by leading statesmen at the highest level, invested with full authority, bearing responsibility to the. peoples and to the whole world, can most effectively ensure a turning point in the unfolding of events in the world arena,” the “Pravda” article said. Messages Printed All Moscow newspapers yesterday published Mr Khrushchev’s message to President Kennedy and Mr Macmillan on their front pages, and said Mr Khrushchev had sent similar messages to Governments of all the other countries on the 18-nation disarmament committee.

The messages sent to Mr Khrushchev by President Kennedy and Mr Macmillan were also published.