Seabed Weapons Treaty Hopes

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32077, 27 August 1969, Page 13

Seabed Weapons Treaty Hopes

(■jV.Z.P.A.-Reuter-rCopsright,; GENEVA, August 26. The American delegation to the Geneva Disarmament Conference confirmed yesterday that it was discussing a compromise with Russia on keeping weapons off the seabed.

A spokesman for the delegation said that it was studying ideas put forward by the Soviet Union and was hopeful of progress towards a seabed treaty. . But he declined to say what the compromise suggestions were, and a Soviet spokesman would say only: “No' comment.” Persistent reports from a variety of Communist sources at the end of last, week indicated that Russia was . now prepared to accept the United States proposal to ban only weapons of mass destruction from the seabed. Russia’s own draft treaty, presented to the conference in March, called for complete demilitarisation of the sea floor beyond a 12-mile wide coastal zone. In return for her agreement to limit the' ban to nuclear weapons, Russia is expected to press the United

States to accept. the 12-mile limit, instead of the three miles the United States proposed in May. Yesterday’s brief American Statement came after several days of extreme reticence on the part of United States officials about the talks, which contrasted sharply with the readiness cf Communist sources to suggest that agreement was close.

This willingness to talk led to a feeling among observers that the Soviet side was hoping a little publicity would prompt the United States into a frame of mind well disposed to Russian demands. An American spokesman declined' to say when agreement might be reached, but added: “It might be possible to predict after a week or two.”

He said that discussions on the compromise began last week.' -.