China Claims Split Is Helping U.S.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30191, 24 July 1963, Page 15

China Claims Split Is Helping U.S.

(N Z. Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, July 23. China accused the United States yesterday of seeking to prevent it from becoming a nuclear power and exploiting current Chinese-Soviet differences to gain Soviet support for the American campaign, United Press International reported.

The charge, which openly admitted the Chinese - Soviet rift, was made by the official New China News Agency.

“The Kennedy Administration has made it very clear that a test ban or partial test ban must be linked with nuclear proliferation,” the Chinese agency said. "The United States is going all out to woo Soviet co-operation for the achievement of this aim. United States officials have spoken publicly of the need to profit from the present ChineseSoviet differences to realise the long-cherished United States dream of preventing China from becoming a power capable of countering nuclear blackmail."

Diplomatic sources said the Chinese were detailing their intention of pressing ahead with their campaign to develop China’s own nuclear weapons.

In Peking last night the Chinese Prime Minister (Mr Chou En-lai) delivered an “important report" at a gathering of more than 30,000 new college graduates at Peking’s Great Hall of the People, the New China News Agency said. It gave no details of the report, but said a number of leading propaganda and education officials were present at the meeting Britain, the United States and Russia continued their

talks on a nuclear test ban treaty today after making "further progress” yesterday. Most Western observers in Moscow expect some sort of agreement to be reached in the next few days. A drafting committee which met yesterday is reliably learned to be putting the finishing touches to a partial agreement covering tests in the atmosphere, outer space and under water. The full conference session yesterday lasted for three hours and 50 minutes. The chief delegates-—Mr Andrei Gromyko (Russia). Lord Hailsham (Britain) and Mr Averell Harriman (United States* —stayed on for a further 50 minutes, the reason was not known. The brief communique gave no clue as to the reason for the private session. The communique listed those taking part and said "Further progress was achieved in considering a draft nuclear test ban treaty covering tests in the atmosphere, outer space and under water. An exchange of views also continued on other matters of mutual interest.”

Barring unforeseen developments the draft was expected to be initialled today or tomorrow, the British United Press said. Other reports said a draft agreement had been completed at the end of last week. Copies had been sent to London and Washington at the week-end for approval.