Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-03

at noon yesterday.
Dear Mr.. President:
Your message of January 81
which was written in so friendly
a tone. could not fail to. awaken
in me recollections of those sim
cere and frank conversations
which we had with Your Excel
lency and our other colleagues al
Geneva six months ago. We may
hold different positions. we may
defend different views, but if we
also have good will and desire
to understand each other, then
such discussions contribute to
the strengthening Of trust and
the promotion of friendly rela-
tons.
was gratified by your agree
ment that the present interna-
tional situation makes it i'm
perative for all states. especially
the Great Powers. which bear
special responsibility for ensur-
ing the peace and security of ma
tons. to adopt measures which
can contribute to a further cas-
ing Of international tension and
the strengthening Of trust and
cooperation between states.
Historic Friendship Noted
was also grati1ied by your
agreement that the historic
friendship between our nations
gives us basis on which better
political relations between our
countries might be established.
1t is precisely because such a
basis exists that my colleagues
and ! decided, soon after our ma
tons had welcomed the New
Year. to address to Your Excel
lency q proposal to consider
Jointly concrete steps that would
permit a substantial improvement
In the relations between our two
countries. In this connection we
felt that the future peace of the
world depended to a great extent
on the status of our relations.
We believed, and still believe,
that the time has come for con-
GLIDING a treaty of friendship
and cooperation between our
countries. This would be an i'm
portant contribution to the de-
velopment of Soviet American
relations and, at the same time.
would contribute to the improve
ment Of relations between your
friends and ours in the interna-
tional field. We can only regret
that our proposal did not have a
more favorable reception on the
part of Your Excellency.
As far as was able to Judge,
Your Excellency is preoccupied
by the fact that the draft treaty
proposed by us repeats to a GER
tain degree some provisions Of
the U. N. Charter, which our
countries have signed. But this
fact, it seems to us. not only does
not hinder but. on the contrary.
favors the conclusion of the
treaty. The existence of the U. N.
Charter by no means excludes
the possibility of concluding any
bilateral agreements between
members of that organization
that are based on its principles.
1t expressly states in the U. N.
Charter that members of the
United Nations are to establish
conditions under which justice
respect for the obligations aris-
ing from treaties and other
sources Of international law can
be maintained"
Party to Agreements
The United States of America,
like many other states. after the
creation of the U. NJ became a
party to a large number of both
bilateral and multilateral trea-
ties and agreements. In this con-
nection there has never been nor
can there be any doubt as to the
incontestable right OF sovereign
states, in the interest of peace,
to conclude any treaties and
agreements that regulate their
relations with other countries.
Nor can we fail to take into
account that the U. NJ Charter
itself cannot be sufficiently effec-
tive If the two greatest powers
in the world-the USSR and the
USA--do not harmonic their
relations. 1t can become more
effective If our two countries CO.
operate in fulfilling the aims of
the U. N. I think that Your
Excellency will agree with this.
AS far as ! am able to Judge
certain doubts arise in your mind
because of the fact that we pro-
pose to Your Excellency the con-
clusion of a treaty ION bilat-
eral basis" whereas the u. N.
Charter Is treaty between
many states" But you will agree
that the conclusion of a treaty
OF friendship and cooperation
between the two strongest pow
ers In the world would contrib
ute enormously to a healthier
international situation. On the
other hand. we are willing to
conclude similar treaties with
other states as well. including
the United Kingdom and France
Lastly. the proposal to conclude
a treaty between the two groups
of states-those parties to NATC
and those parties to the War
saw Treaty-is still open.
Deeds, Not Words
In your message you rightly
observe that it is deeds and
not words that count In the es-
Enlistment of peace through
out the world. The conclusion
of treaty Of friendship and
cooperation between the USSR
and the USA would be one OF
the most important concrete acts
In this respect. in as much as
our two countries, once they had
the very important obligations
provided for in the draft treaty
mould cfrnY,utI,ay, oa,, adaann opS