Russia Declines German Talks

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30668, 6 February 1965, Page 15

Russia Declines German Talks

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, February 5.

The Soviet Union is opposed to new suggestions for a “Big Four” conference to settle German reunification.

The Russians have indicated a meeting to solve the deadlock at this time would be pointless because new “elements” to warrant fresh discussions have not been developed.

German reunification, according to the Communists, is a problem for the two Germanies. Word of the adamant Soviet stand was disclosed by qualified Communist diplomats who said they saw no solution for a long time to come.

The rejection of fresh talks was prompted by recent West German suggestions for an attempt to settle reunification. Twenty years ago this month dividing lines for the East-West occupation zones were drawn up at the Yalta conference. The Russian stand conflicts

with the Potsdam Agreement of 1945, which made the conquering powers responsible for a German settlement.

The Communists, who have blocked German reunification since, do not want to relinquish their hold on the eastern sector of the country.

The Western allies and West Germany do not recognise the Communist regime in East Germany and insist it cannot negotiate Germany’s future. German reunification, the Western democracies contend, remains the responsibility of the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. The Western Powers soon will review their position on reunification at the insistence of the Government in Bonn, authoritative Western sources said, but so far apparently no-one has come up with any concrete proposals for a new approach to Russia.

The United States, backed by Britain, says any proposal should be made on the basis of “an over-all plan” linking reunification with an agreement on Germany’s eastern border and arrangements for the security of central Europe. Basically, however, this amounts to the West’s peace plan for Europe turned down by the Russians at Geneva in 1959.