Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-01

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time in nine years of disarmament
negotiation-moved very close to
accepting an effective system of
arms inspection and control. More
over the Reds had abandoned their
old insiStence that the West first
give up its only remaining advan-
tage - nuclear weapons - before
there could be any tampering with
the Soviet long suit in manpower
Now the emphasis was on cutting
conventional weapons. presumably
including military forces.
Was it a sign of weakness or Of
strength? AS usual there was no
agreement.
Those who thought it disclosed
a basic weakness pointed to the
continuing worldwide reverbera-
tons from the Kremlin's recent
campaign against the spook of
Josef Stain.
How much had the theological
attack on Stalinism weakened the
collective leadership's hold on the
captive peoples throughout the
Soviet bloc? This continued to be
a subject for lively speculation.
Some Russian refugees were crow
ing gleefully that a new revolu-
ton was already we'll under way
in the old country.
From Strength?
Those who thought the Reds dis
armament concession was made
from strength warned that the
Soviet Union was now close enough
to position of nuclear parity with
the West to rely. like us. on an
atomic-bomb stockpile rather than
on military manpower, sorely
needed in agriculture and indus
trial expansion. 1t was the old
game, they said. of softening us
up without impairing their own
position.
1t is far too early, of course, to
Judge whether the new Soviet pro-
posal is as significant as it sounds.
Up to this weekend the details had
not been announced. All we have
to go on are few guarded state
mentS by our negotiators at the
London disarmament talks and a
report by Tass. According to these
sources, these were the salient new
points in the proposal offered by
Soviet Delegate Andrea A. Gromyko
last Tuesday:
Immediately. A three month
freeze in arms levels. Creation"
of an international control agency
at big ports, airfields. army bases,
depots and munitions factories.
tThis. OF course, would take several
months. at leastD Ban on thermo-
nuclear tests Ban on atomic weap-
ons in Germany.
After three months. Manpower
and arms cuts begin, at a rate to
~educe forces of the Soviet Union,
Red China and the United States
to is million each in 1858. Britain
and France would be cut to $50, 900
troops apiece and other countries
to 100000 or less.
Sometime later. Use aerial recon-
Nuisance as inspection device.
Erect zone of limitation" in East
ern Europe where stationing OF
troops would be internationally
regulated Ban all nuclear weapons.
1t will be noted that one of the
prime requirements for an effective
disarmament control system has not
yet been met. The new Soviet plan
still does not provide for an inspec-
ton system lin being and in place."
as the United States insists is nee
eSsary, before any reductions can
start.
Perhaps on the theory that ac-
tual disarmament is still a long
way off. Defense Secretary Charles
E. Wilson took another step last
week to step up Americas pace in
the arms race He named Eyer v.
Murphree. ESQ oil company's re-
search administrator. to co-ordi-
nate the Pentagon's far-hung mis-
Siles development program. This
was the missiles GEAR" appoint
ment demanded by alarmed Sen
ators on Capitol Hill. impressed
with recent Soviet missiles devel-
opment.
The Soviet plan was to establish
United Nations control over the
inspection. 1t is "hedged with re-
strictions." one American negotia-
tor in London said. but apparently
is clear on accepting the funda-
mental points contained in Presi-
dent Eisenhowers proposals at
Geneva.
Whatever the sincerity of the
Soviet offer. it was Of piece in
peaceful pretenSe with the other
Kremlin moves last week. Comrade
Georgi Malenkov, ex-premier turned
atomic energy car in the Soviet
Union. had turned from kissing
British maidens to chucking British
babies under the chin. In Is days
in the British Isles, he had con-
Quoted a personal-contact campaign
that Estes Kefauver himself would
have admired.
In India, First Deputy Premier
Anastas Mikoyan reinforced the
courtship Of Jawaharlal Nehru.
launched in December by Commu-
mist Party Boss Nikita S. Khrush-
chev and Premier Nikolai Bulganin.
The pose of renouncing Stains
villainies was being diligently pur-
sued, in the face Of all the hopeful
outside speculation that the Stain
heirs we're moving into deeper water
than they could navigate.
Trouble in Georgia
Word reached Moscow last week
that the luckless responsible off,
Gals" in Georgia. who had per-
mitted pro-Stalin demonstrations
earlier this month, had been rep
rimanded The Tiflis State Uni
vcrsity party representative was
fired for failing TO submerge "ele-
ments Of nationalism" among the
student body. The Kremlin was
trying 10 cover UP the incident, but