Early Talks On Missiles Likely

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 13

Early Talks On Missiles Likely

(N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright) WASHINGTON, July 12. The United States and the Soviet Union may start discussions on the mutual limitation of strategic missile systems by the end of this week, according to American officials. Mr William Foster, director of the United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, is expected to meet in Geneva tomorrow with his Soviet counterpart, Mr Alexei A. Roschin. Mr Foster and Mr Roschin will represent their countries

lat the Geneva disarmament conferences, to reconvene on July 16. On June 27 the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr Andrei Gromyko, announced that his country was ready to open discussions aimed at limiting the deployment of offensive and defensive missiles. Though there had been exchanges of views during the two weeks since Mr Gromyko’s statement, there still was no indication of where and on what level the Russians wanted to tackle this complex issue, officials said. The possibility could not be ruled out that the Russians wanted to have talks on this essentially bilateral problem under the umbrella of the Geneva conference of 17 nations, officials suggested, the Associated Press reported. The reason could be that Moscow did not want to offer the Chinese the easy opportunity to censor the Soviet Union for another “collusion” with the United States.

The Geneva conference has no agenda, the rules are flexible and it would be no problem for any of the participants to raise missile question.

Article six of the non-pro-liferation treaty, negotiated in the Geneva framework, urged “effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date.”

This is a catch-all phrase that would permit any of the participants to request the United States and the Soviet delegates to discuss the missile issue, officials said.

New Role For Comedienne. —The former Wellington actress, Vivienne Martin, has taken over the star role in the Sammy Davis, jun., musical, “Golden Boy,” which has been running in London for six weeks. Miss Martin, now one of Britain’s leading musical comediennes, has stepped into the role vacated by Gloria de Haven for two months.—London. July 12.