Brezhnev surprise at end of summit

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33261, 26 June 1973, Page 15

Brezhnev surprise at end of summit

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

SAN CLEMENTE (California), June 25.

The Soviet leader, Mr Leonid Brezhnev, will leave the United States today after concluding his summit talks with the surprise announcement that he hoped a long-term agreement on limiting nuclear offensive arms could come within six to eight months.

“We want to be working toward that goal,” Mr Brezhnev told reporters as he and President Nixon were saying their farewells after a week of gruelling summit talks.

Mr Brezhnev is flying today to Paris where diplomatic observers expect him to reassure President Georges Pompidou that the new Soviet-American detente will not impair either county’s relations with its allies.

His hint that a strategic arms limitation talks (S.A.L.T.) agreement for a permanent limit on offensive nuclear weapons could come as soon as six to eight months caught observers by surprise.

He said in a farewell speech at the western White House that he hoped the new S.A.L.T. agreement, among others, would be ready to sign when Mr Nixon visits Moscow early next year.

The Soviet leader was in a jovial mood as he chatted with the three Skylab astronauts, Captain Charles “Pete” Conrad, Commander Paul Weitz and Dr Joseph Kerwin, at the farewell ceremony.

“You are very, very brave men,” he said.' “I am very happy, for your safe mission.” The three men, back from a record-setting 28 days in space, were supposed to talk through blue gauze masks but they took them off. “If we catch a cold, it would be a” honour to catch it from you two gentlemen,” Captain Conrad said.

In a television broadcast to the American people on the eve of his departure, Mr Brezhnev said that the Moscow summit last year and this week’s talks had put Soviet-American relations “on a new track.” Known for his solemn manner during public appearances at home Mr Brezhnev impressed television viewers with constant broad smiles, occasional horseplay and cheerful “boxer” salutes with fists gripped above his head. At a poolside reception at th Western White House on Saturday, Mr Brezhnev traded make believe gunshots with the Western star, Chuck Connors, and pretended to dive into the swimming pool.

But the bulk of his visit was devoted to the talks — nearly 40 hours in all — some of them formal meetings, some informal, and seven hours spent with the two leaders speaking alone with a single interpreter. The talks resulted in nine new agreements being signed. Six were signed last year in Moscow.

The week’s agreements included one on reducing the risks of nuclear war, which Mr Brezhnev said was of “historic significance.” After leaving Mr Nixon, Mr Brezhnev flew in a Presidential jet to spend a night at Camp David, Maryland, before flying on to Paris. Mr Nixon is to stay on at the Western White House for two weeks.