Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-05-05

Tense, reached in a meeting o,
Bonn. Germany, underscores the
conclusion Of many experts here
that the basic disarmament
deadlock between Russia and the
Western \ powers remains un.
touched by the new Soviet ap.
proach.
This view persists in spite OF
publicly expressed official opti-
mism on the subject of disarma-
ment here this week. The off,
cial line laid down by the State
Department is that the Russian
position seems to be becoming
more negotiable" and that there
is greater hope for some initial
agreement toward ending the
arms race now than at any time
In the last 10 years.
Much Negotiation
Even those who share this
hope. however. say that it will
take much negotiation in the
United Nations disarmament
talks at London to discover
whether it is soundly based. Pri-
vately. they speak of the posi-
bility that the Russians may
simply have made another we'll
publicized propaganda maneuver
If propaganda was its purpose,
1t may already have proved sue
cessful in those areas of the
world that are deeply worried
about the possibility Of atomic
war.
The Russian proposal, heavily
emphasizing Soviet insiStence on
doing away with atomic weapons
by agreement among the big
powers, was presented to the
U. N. disarmament group on
Tuesday and within a few hours
was announced by the Moscow
radio. The text was later re-
ceived in Washington and al
ready has been subjected to de-
tailed study.
Yesterday. while the Soviet
Broadcasting System was still
telling the rest Of the world
about the Russian disarmament
plan. the North Atlantic Council
in Bonn issued a communique
declaring that the Western
allies must be able to use all
available means-which includes
nuclear weapons-to meet any
aggression. The West thus re-
stated a familiar position but
one which worries many people
in the world even among those
who recognize that atomic power
may we'll be the best deterrent
against Communist attack.
Aerial Inspection
Optimism about the Soviet
disarmament plan rests mainly
on the declared Russian readi-
ness to agree on mutual aerial
inspection Of some portion Of
Soviet and American territory
The Soviets proposed inspection
Of Eastern Siberia in exchange
for looks at Alaska and the
Western United States. These
areas are unacceptable TO the
Washington government. OH
Gals here are now interested In
seeing whether the Soviets will
be willing to negotiate In Lon
don on different areas which
would be more equal in strategic
importance.
Some optimism was also ex-
pressed here about a modiflca-
ton Of the Russian proposal for
doing away with atomic weapons.
The Soviets in the past have
called for destruction Of stock
piles Of atomic and hydrogen
bombs and other nuclear weapons
at an early stage Of any disarma-
ment program.
They now have proposed such
action for a later stage but still
insist on an early agreement not
to use such weapons in war
They also have called for a dec
laration on banning tests OF
atomic weapons.
BY contrast all Western dis
armament proposals. including
those for reduction in the size OF
conventional armies. put initial
emphasis on establishing the
strongest possible system Of in
ternational inspection and con-
troll to prevent violations.
The antagonistic approaches
to this critical issue stem from
the military positions of the
United States and Russia as
well as from the propaganda i'm
pact they make on the world.
Probably at any point of show
down, military considerations
are decisive.
AS one American official put
1t, neither side will ever make