TEST-BAN TREATY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 11

TEST-BAN TREATY

Accord On U.N. Appeal

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, October 29.

The United States and the Soviet Union have reached agreement on a United Nations appeal asking all countries to sign the partial Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, reliable sources said today. ,

The two great powers have also reportedly agreed on a wording formula by which the United Nations will direct the 17-nation Geneva Disarmament Committee to resume negotiations on the issue of underground nuclear testing. A draft resolution embodying these two principles is expected to be introduced today in the General Assembly’s Main Political Committee. Submission of the draft was held up yesterday while the eight non-aligned nations of the Geneva conference tried to persuade Russian and American delegates to accept some amendments.

Informants said the neutralist proposals did not seriously alter the substance of the resolution, but were designed to improve its scope. Diplomats expected the backstage talks to end this morning, probably with the 15 other members of the Geneva conference agreeing to sponsor the draft with the United States and the Soviet Union.

The resolution is the product of more than a week of private discussion and delegates are anxious to get it adopted quickly. Underground Tests

Most of the delay was caused by differences between the United States and Russia on the question of international verification for underground tests. The Americans insist on inspection to verify any agreement to ban test underground, whereas the Russians say they will never accept such inspection, holding that all tests can be detected by existing national systems. Informed sources said the draft resolution made no specific mention of controls, but was clear enough in its implication of them to please the Americans.

An appeal by the General Assembly to all countries which have not yet signed the partial treaty was considered an important achievement, focusing the world spotlight on the rejection of the treaty by France and China. France and China’s European ally, Albania, were expected to vote against this section of the resolution. The Political Committee began its general disarmament debate yesterday, and this, too, is likely to end with a resolution referring the question back to Geneva The United States and the Soviet Union are listed to speak in the debate today.