OFFER AT GENEVA

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30094, 30 March 1963, Page 18

OFFER AT GENEVA

Little Response To Russia (N.Z P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) GENEVA, March 27. Russia today offered the Disarmament Conference what her delegate described as a major step towards the Western stand for nuclear missiles. Mr Semyon Tsarapkin, the leader of the Soviet delegation, told the conference he would also like to answer Western requests for clarification of the Gromyko plan, under which this concession was offered—a plan permitting retention of a small number of nuclear weapons until the end of the second stage of disarmament. But after hearing ,his explanations, Britain and America said they were not very helpful, and Italy described his speech as “designed for propaganda purposes.” Much of the speech was devoted to criticism of Western ideas on disarmament and Mr Joseph Godber, of Britain, expressed surprise at these Soviet tactics. Mr Tsarapkin told the conference the criterion for the number of nuclear weapons retained through the second stage of disarmament would be a minimum that, “while creating additional guarantees against aggression, would not make it possible to conduct a nuclear war.” Russia would also agree to control of launching-pads, which should not be greater in number than the missiles retained "and of course these would all be destroyed at the end of the second stage, together with the missiles,” Mr Tsarapkin said.

Horses Drawn in Sweep.— Feilding and New Plymouth ticket holders have drawn favourites in the Irish sweepstake lottery on the Grand National to be raced ait Aintree today The lottery agent in Auckland said the nome-de-plume of the ticket holders were “Popeie Wopsie,” of New Plymouth, and “Zonda,” of Feilding.—(P.A.)