Moscow talks augur well

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33675, 26 October 1974, Page 17

Moscow talks augur well

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) MOSCOW, October 25. The United States Secretary of State (Dr Henry Kissinger) has embarked today on detailed discussions with Soviet Union leaders on ways of resuming the stagnant Strategic Arms Limitation Talks. Dr Kissinger had talks lasting almost seven hours with the General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party (Mr Brezhnev), but the two sides came round to the S.A.L.T. — which Dr Kissinger sees as a key part of his negotiations — only towards the end of the day. A senior American official said before arriving in Moscow two days ago that Dr Kissinger had “reasonably concrete ideas,” to put to the Russians about resuming the discussions.

Today’s meeting is being held against the background of what Dr Kissinger described as “a good beginning” in his talks yesterday with Mr Brezhnev and the Foreign Minister (Mr Andrei Gromyko) — the latter said that Mr Brezhnev considered that the meeting so far had been very useful. Mr Brezhnev and Dr Kissinger also reviewed the Middle East situation and the proposed European Security Conference. After the morning talks yesterday, which had lasted more than three hours, Dr Kissinger and Mr Gromyko pledged their countries’ efforts to ensure the permanence of improved relations between their two countries. In a speech at a dinner in honour of Dr Kissinger, last night, the Foreign Minister said that Mr Brezhnev had expressed satisfaction at President Ford’s declared support for detente. “Further success in relaxing tensions will require vig-

orcus efforts on both sides,”E Mr Gromyko said, “and we c are prepared to make those efforts.” t In his reply, Dr Kissinger t declared his agreement, j “With greater efforts on / both sides we can make t very considerable progress t in the months ahead,” ne j said. “I pledge these efforts c from the American side.” v The positive tone of Mr Gromyko’s remarks is seen , as significant in the light of ’ apparent Kremlin unease in ® recent weeks over some of ‘ Mr Ford’s policy moves and ■ what American officials say ’ is a strong Russian desire 5 for an early summit meet- 0 ing. Both Soviet and American - sources are predicting a ? summit at the end of 1 November, possibly in the f i t

Far Eastern Soviet port city of Vladivostok. Mr Brezhnev will want to test Mr Ford’s commitment to the policy of detente he inherited from the Nixon Administration, and the two men will probably examine the S.A.L.T. guidelines Dr Kissinger hopes to work out during his present Moscow visit. The momentum towards such a meeting now seems so great that diplomatic observers feel that Washington can no longer turn down the idea without casting serious doubt on its desire for detente. The most senior United States official said that a summit would be agreed on it there were “no confrontation atmosphere” in the Moscow talks. The Americans describe yesterday’s talks as very cordial, and an official Soviet statement, as businesslike and constructive — a very positive assessment in Soviet terminology.