Proposal To Khrushchev On Nuclear Test Ban

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30115, 26 April 1963, Page 13

Proposal To Khrushchev On Nuclear Test Ban

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter — Copyright)

WASHINGTON, April 25.

Initial reaction of the Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev) to the new British-American bid made in Moscow yesterday for a nuclear test-ban agreement was not encouraging, informed sources said.

They said that President Kennedy was referring to this situation when he told his press conference last night that he was not “overly sanguine” about prospects for an accord with the Soviet Union.

When he spoke, the President was said to be aware of

the first report received from the United States Ambassador (Mr Foy Kohler) on the talk that he and the British Ambassador (Sir Humphrey Trevelyan) had with Mr Khrushchev in Moscow yesterday. It was reliably learned that the two Ambassadors presented a new proposal for solving the deadlock over onsite inspections of Soviet territory to prevent "cheating” in a test-ban agreement. Reliable sources said the United States and Britain proposed that a lump sum number of inspections be spread over a seven-year period. It was believed the figure was 30, making an average of slightly more than four inspections a year. The Russians have refused in the past to go above two or three inspections a year on their territory. On Monday Mr Khrushchev hinted that even this offer might be withdrawn. The West had formerly asked for not less than seven inspection* a year. The proposals were believed to have been initiated by the British Foreign Secretary (Lord Home).

In Washington, United States officials confirmed that the United States and Britain had presented Mr Khrushchev with a new inspection plan. United Press International reported. The State Department sold, however, that "a specific number of inspections was

not discussed” at file meeting between Mr Khrushchev, Mr Kohler and Sir Humphrey Trevelyan.

The State Department pres* officer, Mr Lincoln White, confirmed that Mr Kohler and Sir Humphrey Trevelyan discussed "the test ban question” with Mr Khnnh. chev but said numbers of inspections hsd not come into the conversation.

Other official* Mid a new plan for resolving th* knotty inspection issue, which has

been the principal bar to a test-ban agreement, had been given the Soviet leader.

They declined to say whether it mentioned specific numbers.