Move Raises Papers’ Hopes

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29765, 7 March 1962, Page 13

Move Raises Papers’ Hopes

(N.Z.PJ).-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, March 6.

Russia’s acceptance of the BritishAmerican plan that the forthcoming 18-Power Geneva conference should begin at the foreign ministers’ level was viewed with varying degrees of hope in this morning’s British press.

The n-sws dominated newspapers and was splashed on front pages under huge headlines.

A commentator of the “Daily Mail” said: “Two major concessions yesterday by Mr Khrushchev made a spring summit almost a certainty.” In an editorial, the “Daily Mail” said it was wrong to look a gift horse in the mouth —but why had Mr Khrushchev agreed to a foreign ministers’ meeting after having rejected it? Surely it was not without significance that his change of mind followed hard on President Kennedy’s decision to resume nuclear tests.

“Or are we being too real-* istic in suggesting that here is another proof that firmness in dealing with the Soviet always pays? Perhaps so,” said the editorial. “Whatever the reasons, this new, slight thaw in the cold war is indeed welcome."

The “Daily Express” said: “Now all looks set for a Big Three summit in May. Clearly the Russians, like us, are deeply concerned about the failure to control armaments.

“Out of common anxiety may emerge the willingness to compromise that can be the basis for lasting peace.” “Agreement Encouraging” “The Times” described Mr Khrushchev’s agreement to an early meeting of Foreign Ministers as encouraging, but added: “It is clear that if President Kennedy

begins postponing the deadline that he has set (for nuclear tests), the Russians will be encouraged to raise their demands.

“Almost certainly they will now make an offer which appears attractive. The pressure on the American Administration to postpone testing will then be great, and if it is resisted, and testing is resumed, America may get the sort of blame that he (the President) is now trying to throw on the Russians. “It is an awkward situation. All that can be said at present is that any Russian offer that appears to contain the seeds of genuine progress must be subject to hard and realistic probing before consideration could be given to postponement.” The “Guardian" said: 1 “It is a relief that Mr Khrushchev has at least accepted a preliminary meeting of Foreign Ministers. To decide, as some commentators have already done, that he has conceded this to the West because of the renewed threat of Western tests is probably false “He may be as conscious as anyone of the need to try to reach agreement even though he will be as tough as ever in negotiation.” The “Scotsman” said Mr Khrushchev’s response suggested he had been more impressed by President Kennedy's time limit for an agreement on nuclear tests before the United States started such tests again than first Soviet reactions indicated.

The “Daily Telegraph” said: “Hope must magnify even the most uncertain gleam. Such is Mr Khrushchev’s note to Mr Macmillan and President Kennedy yesterday.”