Soviet Strategic Weapons Policy

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30155, 12 June 1963, Page 15

Soviet Strategic Weapons Policy

(N .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

MOSCOW, June 11

Mr Khrushchev has told the British Labour leader, Mr Harold Wilson, that the Soviet Union had stopped making strategic bombers and surface warships because of their “total vulnerability.”

Mr Wilson said the subject arose of nuclear bomber forces when he and Mr Patrick Gordon-Walker (the Labour "shadow” Foreign Secretary) spoke to Mr Khrushchev about the French "force de frappe,” not about the British bomber force ‘lt was clear that whatever his feelings about France being a nuclear power, he did not regard the French bomber force, or for that matter the British bomber force, as having any prospect of getting through the Soviet antiaircraft defences." he said. “He did not regard our force or the French force as having anv militarv significance at the present moment “He also referred to Soviet rocket developments in connexion with surface ships of ail kinds . he told us they had stopped making strategic bombers or surface naval vessels because of their total vulnerability but they are still making front-line bombers ”

Mr Gordon-Walker inter, jected: “They have actually scrapped some ships which, as he out it. Stalin had built’— two cruisers" Mr Khrushchev had "con-

firmed that ... if Germany were to become a nuclear power this would cause a fundamental change in EastWest relationships and make ’he prospects of any EastWest easement J much more remote." he' said Mr Wilson said his impression from this afternoon’s talks with Mr Khrushchev was “that the immediate prospects of a full test ban agreement based on inspection are not very hopeful. “On the other hand.” he said, “the possibility of a test ban confined to atmospheric tests, space and underwater tests, which we rut to him seem to offer more hope of an agreement” Mr Wilson said he would have further discussions with Mr Khrushchev at the end of the week after talks with other Soviet officials. Inspection Offer It was understood Mr Khrushchev, who impressed Mr Wilson by his vigour and grasp of detail had, by implication. withdrawn the Soviet offer made several months ago t- allow up to three insoections a year on Soviet territory to check underground explosions