The Press THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1963. Almost A Nuclear Summit

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30156, 13 June 1963, Page 12

The Press THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 1963. Almost A Nuclear Summit

President Kennedy’s speech at Washington University, in which he announced high-level talks in Moscow among the United States, Britain, and Russia about a nuclear test ban, revives diplomatic efforts to end the cold war. Only last month Mr Kennedy concurred in forecasts that the imminent failure of the Geneva nuclear conference would mean another round of testing—“ a great disaster “ for all If agreement on a test ban proved impracticable, added the President, “I would think perhaps the “ genie is out of the bottle “and we’ll never get it “ back in again ”. The decision on a Moscow conference results apparently from Mr Khrushchev's surprising endorsement of a proposal made jointly by the United States and Britain a fortnight ago. All three Governments have excellent reasons for avoiding additional diplomatic commitments at present. Mr Kennedy is deeply involved in the American racial dispute; Mr Macmillan is burdened by the Profumo affair; and Mr Khrushchev has worries about China and the Russian economy. Mr Kennedy’s announcement ended an almost complete stalemate in East-West negotiations—a stalemate widely attributed to Mr Khrushchev’s distaste for argument until, after the forthcoming ideological conference with the Chinese Communists. News of the three-Power meeting gives cause for satisfaction that a compro-

mise solution to the nuclear test problem is yet possible, rather than for optimism about an early disengagement between Russia and the West.

After five years’ bargaining the test ban issues on which the Great Powers are still divided have been so narrowed that there remains little further room for manoeuvre. Both sides are prepared to ban all tests in the atmosphere, under water, and in outer space. Only on inspections to enforce the prohibition of underground testing is there real controversy; but the Russians will not sign a treaty unless it covers all types of explosions. The West demands seven ipternational inspections a year to prevent underground tests; the Russians will concede only three such inspections. If the Americans had not demonstrated their ( good faith by cancelling their recently - scheduled tests, this verbal deadlock would almost certainly have persisted till renewed Soviet experiments provoked an outcry for a fresh appeal to the Big Powers’ common sense and regard for human welfare. Agreement ' among the United States, Britain, and Russia could not immediately bind nuclear dissidents such as France or Communist Cjiina; but its salutary effects would be greater than those of almost any other conceivable international accord. For that reason the Moscow talks are more than welcome, even if a successful outcome is far from certain.