Conference To Debate Neutrals' Plan

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29801, 18 April 1962, Page 15

Conference To Debate Neutrals' Plan

(N Copyright) GENEVA, April 17. The 17-nation disarmament conference was expected to discuss today a neutralist compromise plan aimed at breaking the East - West deadlock on a nuclear test ban treaty. Both Russia and the West promptly promised to give the plan close consideration when the eight neutral nations at the conference proposed it yesterday Britain's delegate (Mr

Joseph Godber) said the plan clearly demanded the British Government’s closest and most sympathetic attention, and Mr Arthur Dean (United States) said his Government would give it the most careful consideration The Soviet delegate (Mr Zorin) said the plan was an earnest and new effort to find a correct and acceptable solution to move forward from a sterile position Race Against Time Diplomatic observers said the compromise was a race against time. The neutrals suggested an international commission of scientists, possibly from nonaligned countries, to report on any nuclear explosion or suspicious event and process all data received from an agreed system of observation posts. America is to resume atmospheric tests unless Russia agrees by the end of this month to a system of international inspection to verify that a test ban treaty is being observed. Observers said the neutral plan did not specifically call for the establishment of international control posU: on the territory of the Soviet Union and other Communist bloc countries which have refused to have them

It merely said that in addition to existing national posts there could be. if

necessary, “new posts established by agreement.” This falls short of the present British and American demand for a limited number of control posts on Soviet territory. But the plan leaves' an escape clause for any signatory to withdraw from its treaty commitments if a country which is suspected of carrying out clandestine tests refuses to clear its name through international verification.