No Progress At Geneva

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 11

No Progress At Geneva

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright? GENEVA, Aug. 5. Canada joined the United States and Britain today in demanding that the 17nation Disarmament Conference press for an early nuclear nonproliferation agreement, in spite of Russian stalling. The plenary conference resumed after a day’s break with an address by Canada’s chief delegate, Mr E. L. M. Burns. Canada, like the United States and Britain, holds that a halt to the spread of nuclear weapons is the most important issue before the conference. The Canadians have a plan of their own, which they have been trying in the last few days to align with differing British, American and Italian suggestions. The Canadian plan goes further than the British, which merely calls on the

nuclear powers not to pass on nuclear weapons and knowhow, and on non-nuclear countries to renounce the acquisition of such weapons. Cheating Canada would like safeguards against cheating built into a non-proliferation treaty, as well as sanctions to dissuade States from breaking their commitment. She also wants a definite time limit. Another Canadian requisite is for some security guaran- ; tees under which nuclear ‘ States would come to the as- ’ sistance of non-aligned and ■ neutral non-nuclear States, as protection against nuclear atI tack or blackmail. t But neither the United ’ States and Britain nor Russia I consider such guarantees > feasible in present circumstances. i The Western negotiators ' met yesterday in a further t effort to iron out their differ- • ences over a joint draft I treaty, but they were proving difficult to resolve in a > hurry. , In the absence of a West- ! ern proposal, the conference

appeared virtually paralysed.

The Russians have brought no new proposals and have warned that they will not consider any non-prolifera-tion treaty unless the West ends all plans for a N.A.T.O. nuclear force.