TEST BAN ISSUE Soviet “Paper Pledge” Not Acceptable

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29798, 14 April 1962, Page 18

TEST BAN ISSUE Soviet “Paper Pledge” Not Acceptable

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter— Copyright) GENEVA, April 12. The United States warned yesterday that it will not submit its own security and that of the free world to a paper pledge that Russia will never again test nuclear weapons.

“The motivation for developing new weapons which was strong enough to lead Russia to break its selfimposed pledge to resume nuclear tests could well lead it to attempt the clandestine violation of a nuclear test ban treaty," the United States delegate (Mr Arthur Dean), told the disarmament conference

Britain and the United States had made one concession after another in an attempt to meet Soviet fears that an inspected test ban treaty would be used as a cover for espionage. “There has not been the slightest demonstration of Soviet goodwill or flexibility.’’ he said “On the contrary, the Soviet Union has made evident, by its conduct

last autumn, just how muc<i it values the conduit of tests for the development of new weapons "

He read out the Joint appeal to the Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev) by the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) and President Kennedy to reconsider and accept the principle of international verification of a test ban treaty “There is no further appeal which I can make here to my Soviet colleagues." Mr Dean said. “beyond my oftrepeated plea for them to show some reasonableness, flexibility and political sense “Along with human beings elsewhere, everywhere. I can only wait for the response of the Soviet Government and can only hope that it will

give grounds for hope and encouragement that the world may. in safety, at least te free from the detonations of nuclear weapons.”

Outlining the conflicting Soviet and West views. Mr Dean said: "It is my belief that ttie position of the United Kingdom and the Uniited States on this matter is scientifically unassailable ” Progress on Treaty While the conference found itself completely balked on the nuclear testing problem, the delegates made cautious but relatively smooth progress toward a treaty on general and complete disarmament. sa ; d the Associated Press In a atmosphere the 17 nations dir'ussed what should be in part one of a disarmament treaty

The Italian delegation referred an American draft on the treaty’s part one to that contained in a rival Soviet document. The British Minister of State <Mr Joseph Godber' objected to the way the Soviet draft singled out foreign military bases for liouidation.

Mr Godber and other Westerners said both foreign and domestic bases would disappear if complete disarmament arrangements ultimately were agreed upon and carried out Mr Zorin insisted that the first part of the treaty should contain a list of binding obligations But the Western delegates said the section in-

stead should merely give a definition of goals Mr Zorin and Mr Dean a« conference co-chairmen, are expected to set tin a w>rkrg group later Wits week to seek an agreed draft for part on?.