Rusk Begins Tour Of European Capitals

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29853, 20 June 1962, Page 15

Rusk Begins Tour Of European Capitals

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 19. The United States Secretary of State (Mr Dean Rusk) flew today to Paris for talks with the French President (General de Gaulle) and other French officials on the problems of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (N.A.T.0.) alliance..

Paris wa s the first stop on a 10-day tour which will take Mr Rusk to Berlin, Bonn, Rome, London, and Lisbon before he returns to Washington on June 28. He said in a statement before leaving that he hoped his consultations with allied leaders would “lead to further consolidation” of N.A.T.0., United Press International reported. The ferment within the alliance stemmed not from any basic differences on fundamentals but a "lively examination” of what to do next, he said. Mr Rusk said the fundamental commitments of the N.A.T.O. Nations remained solid and whole.

“There are 'no cracks in the basement of this great edifice of the Atlantic community,” he said. “What we are talking about is how to add another storey on this great structure."

Meeting With Dobrynin Before leaving Washington, Mr Rusk held another meeting with the Soviet Ambassador (Mr Anatoly F. Dobrynin) as par: of their series of discussions about West Berlin.

Mr Dobrynin made it clear to Mr Rusk that there was no change in the basic Russian position on the Berlin dispute, United States officials said later.

Mr Dobrynin called on Mr Rusk at his own request today and conferred with him for 90 minutes on the Berlin problem., Reuter reported. The State Department said that “nothing essentially new” h,ad transpired at the meeting, and that no documents had been exchanged. Officials said that the Secretary of State, at his previous meeting with Mr Dobrynin. had explained the U.S. position fully and had asked the Ambassador whether the Soviet Government felt there might be some common ground which could lead to

fruitful discussions of the subject Mr Dobrynin had replied yesterday by restating the basic Soviet position and had confirmed earlier impressions that no progress on basic differences had been achieved, the officials said. Diplomatic observers took this to indicate that the United States had not yet found any signs that some accommodation could be worked out with the Russians which would not endanger the vital Western rights in Berlin. Talks In Paris In Paris, Mr Rusk's talks with the French leaders will be on mutual relations in the wider context of the developing European Common Market, nuclear policy, Berlin and East-West relations. After a meeting with the French Foreign Minister (Mr Couve de Murville > today, Mr Rusk will see General de Gaulle at. the Elysee Palace. He will then have a working dinner with Mr Couve de Murville at the French Foreign Ministry. Tomorrow morning Mr Rusk will address the 15nation N.A.T.O. Permanent Council and talk with the American Supreme Allied Commander in Europe (General Lauris Norstad). Tomorrow afternoon he will

see his French opposite number again and call on the Prime Minister (Mr Georges Pompidou). He will have a final meeting with Mr Couve de Murville on Thursday

morning before flying to Berlin. The British United Press said indications were that Mr Rusk would find General de Gaulle in an uncompromising mood. It was reported that General de Gaulle would tell Mr Rusk bluntly that he was determined to carry through his plans for an independent French nuclear striking force. It was also believed that General de Gaulle would express annoyance that the United States had refused to share nuclear secrets with France as it did with Britain. However, he was expected to make it clear that he is not going to beg for United States nuclear secrets, the British United Press said.