MILD WARSAW PACT CALL

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31941, 19 March 1969, Page 13

MILD WARSAW PACT CALL

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) 1 BUDAPEST, March 18. ] The Soviet Union and her six allies in the j Warsaw Pact last night i called for an all-Euro- t pean conference on se- > cavity and peaceful co- e operation, apparently J aimed at ending the ;

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The Budapest Communist summit meeting in Budapest echoed statements by previous Communist assemblies in Karlovy Vary and Bucharest for an end to N.A.T.O. and all military blocs—presumably including the Warsaw Pact. But last night’s softly worded Communist 'appeal gained significance *fln the light of

the recent clashes between the Soviet Union and China on their far-eastern border. Observers said that it might reflect the Kremlin’s anxiety to reach understanding in the West while she manoeuvres towards the new threat opening up her eastern flank. The appeal was issued after a IJ-hour meeting, according to the Hungarian news agency, M.T.I.

The appeal was unanimous, which meant that Nicolae Ceausescu, State and party

leader of Rumania, had given it his whole-hearted approval. Apparently to reassure such States, as Rumania, the appeal, as issued by the Czechoslovak news agency, Ceteka, emphasised the need for Europe to agree “on the basis of equality, mutual respect, independence and sovereignty of States.” Leaders of Czechoslovakia,’ invaded by Warsaw Fact

armies last August, took the chair at the meeting. The combination of Czechoslovak chairmanship and a communique speaking in terms of equality and sovereignty, again raised the question of whether Soviet troops occupying Czechoslovakia were likely to stay there much longer. West German press reports recently have spoken of efforts to agree on a withdrawal sometime this year. But there has been no official confirmation of any Soviet intention of this kind. The appeal issued last night said that 30 European States, big or small, with differing social systems had to live side by side “. . . and this fact cannot be altered by anybody. “The member States of the Warsaw Pact, after an analysis of the situation in Europe, are of the opinion that there

is a realistic possibility to ensure ,by common efforts European security with regard to'the interests of all European States and nations.” There was no attack on any one country by name. One passage which spoke of forces in Europe betting on further divisions and rockets and planning military programmes for decades ahead might have referred to West Germany. But the appeal was directed towards European co-oper-ation in all fields—even including water conservancy—and there was no reference to the United States’ announced plan to push on with the anti-ballistic missile system.

Although the latest Berlin crisis occurred less than a month ago it got no mention tonight except to say that West Berlin “... has a special statute and floes not belong to West Germany.”