Nixon Seeks Speedy Treaty Ratification

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31907, 7 February 1969, Page 11

Nixon Seeks Speedy Treaty Ratification

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 6. President Nixon has called on the Senate to ratify promptly the treaty to ban the spread of nuclear weapons, saying he believes this would help his Administration in future negotiations with the Soviet Union.

In a special message to the Senate, President Nixon said he had always supported the goal of halting the spread of nuclear arms, although he had opposed ratification of the treaty last year immediately after Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces Invaded Czechoslovakia. “My request at this time in no sense alters my condemnation of that Soviet action,” he said. “But I believe that ratification of the treaty at this time would advance this Administration’s policy of negotiation, rather than confrontation, with the U.S.S.R. “. . . In submitting this request, I wish to endorse the commitment made by the previous Administration that the United States will permit the i

International Atomic Energy Agency to apply its safeguards to all nuclear activities in the United States, exclusive of those activities with direct national security significance. “I also reiterate our willingness to join with all treaty parties to take appropriate measures to ensure that potential benefits from peaceful applications of nuclear explosions will be made available to non-nuclear-weapons parties to tho treaty.” The Senate Republican Leader (Senator Everett Dirksen, of Illinois) told a White’ House press conference he did not anticipate any real trouble about ratification of the treaty, which was signed by about 90 nations but so far has been ratified by only Inine.