Hope To Halt Tests

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29820, 12 May 1962, Page 12

Hope To Halt Tests

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, May 11. The sincere desire of the United States for an international agreement which would permit the cessation of nuclear weapon tests was emphasised today by the United States Secretary of State <Mr Rusk) during his press conference. “Our President has admitted that his greatest disappointment has been the failure of attempts to produce a workable formula tn permit the abandonment of nuclear weapon testing.” said Mr Rusk “Such an agreement is necessary, if only to stop the enormous wastage of dollars and roubles.” Asked about the visits being made to overseas countries by. members of the United States ’Government. Mr Rusk said that all but one member of the United States Cabinet had been overseas recently This had been done at the recommendation of the State Department, as a method of assisting international understanding. Referring to the recent trip by Mr Rrbert Kennedy. Mr Rusk said: “He is a young man. with fresh and forthright ideas. I am one of

those who urged him to go.” In reply to a question on New Zealand’s responsibilities in the Tokelaus, Mr Rusk said: “I think all of us who have Islands in the I acific have a creative job ahead of us. The people in the islands are feeling the winds of change. We must keep in close touch to solve these problems. “We are not quarrelling with Britain over Christmas Island, though we both claim it. Actually, Britain has troops on the island. But these things will solve themselves.”