Khrushchev’s Berlin Plan ‘Not New’

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29872, 12 July 1962, Page 11

Khrushchev’s Berlin Plan ‘Not New’

fti.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, July 11.

Mr Khrushchev’s speech at the World Peace Congress in Moscow yesterday was not regarded as changing the situation between East and West, according to “The Times’’ diplomatic correspondent.

His proposal that other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces should replace the French, British and United States garrisons in West Berlin was not new. The Soviet Ambassador in Washington (Mr Dobrynin) had already suggested this in talks with the United States Secretary of State (Mr Rdsk).

The correspondent said that according to reports from the United States there was no doubt that the proposal would not be accepted.

The “Guardian,” in an editorial, said delegates must have been “disappointed” with Mr Khrushchev’s speech if

they were expecting something fresh.

The “New York Times” said Mr Khrushchev had made more difficult the hard task of building the mutual confidence needed if world peace was to be assured. The newspaper said the most depressing point of the speech was his dusting off of the threadbare thesis that “the United States leadership” was seeking to condition the West for atomic war by pretending that America could triumph easily or cheaply. “No-one in a position of responsibility in Washington doubts the enormous cost in lives and devastation of unrestricted thermonuclear combat.

“The sole purpose of our own renewed tests is to insure that we are not outstripped in an area where unpreparedness is an invitation to obliteration. “The kind of distortion In which Mr Khrushchev indulges merely makes more difficult the hard task of building the mutual confidence needed if peace is to be assured in this, beleaguered world,” it saia. (Mr Khrushchev’s speech, page 13).

Gerbhardt For Australia (N.Z J*.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SINGAPORE July 10. A Singapore Magistrate, Mr Choor Singh, today ordered the extradition to Australia of a 22-year-old German. Kurt Hans Gerbhardt, to face trial on a charge of attempted murder. Mr Choor Singh remanded Gerbhardt in custody for 15 days after which, he ordered, two Melbourne detectives who made the extradition application should take Gerbhardt back to Melbourne. The Magistrate told Gerbhardt he was free to apply tor a writ of habeas corpus, or take any other legal process suitable to obtain his freedom, during the 15-day waiting period.