Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-08-18
Allies Seeking
|DefinitiveStand
On Disarrlinu
BY JOHN M. HIGHTowER

Iarm.
This foreshadows one or more
moves by the United States and
Allied governments in the Lon
don disarmament conference
within the next week or so.
Oficials. who declined tc
forecast the nature Of these
moves precisely, said cautiously
yesterday that certainly some
movement is to be expected in
the Western position prior to
q recess Of the negotiations.
One project on which the
United States. Britain, France
and Canada are now working
hard is a comprehensive state
ment Of the whole range Of
Western disarmament proposals
which has been partially
spelled out by United States
lnegotiator Harold Stassen DUR
ing the past two months.
Disagreements Slow Pace
Mr.. Stassen has been ham.
pered by Allied disagreement
which have slowed the pace Of
his operation and brought q
steady drumbeat Of complaint
from the Russians.
The completed Allied state
ment seems certain to contain
for the first time a definitive
proposal on cutting on the
manufacture Of atomic arma-
ments as part Of q ilrst-step
disarmament treaty. The
United States and its Allies
may dramatic their offer on
this issue to get across to the
world their argument thai
some progress has been made
in the London talks and that
they are worth continuing.
Another field in which the
United States particularly has
unanswered in recent months
is that Of stopping nucleal
tests. Mr.. Stassen has pro.
posed suspending tests for II
months but only on condition
that the suspension would b
inseparably linked with {
pledge to halt atomic weapons
production.
This link is not negotiable
officials here and in Londor
have said repeatedly. But Il
is known that basic United
States policy decisions left Mr.
Stassen some leeway on tn.
duration Of the test suspension
period. Some further offer tc
the Russians in this field i
possible.
Propaganda . Factor
Basically officials here seem
to be worried about two prob.
lens in connection with the
London meetings, which are
technically meetings Of a five-
power subcommittee Of the
United Nations Commission OF
Disarmament.
One problem is concerned
with how the West is makint
out representatives. The So
viets plug very simple pro-
posals for meeting the miIitar,
challenge Of the atomic age anc
lessening the threat of atomic
war.
Western governments say tn.
Soviets propositions are un.
workable, phony and designed
for propaganda purposes only
They include such demands Al
a ban on the use Of atomi.
weapons, a suspension o.
atomic tests for two or thre,
years under uncertain condi.
tons Of inspection and the like
The Soviets negotiate on many
propositions which they them.
selves put forward but they al.
ways come back to those two
for propaganda purposes.
Hence one important con.
Germ Of Western governments Is
with the propaganda impact Of
the far more complex and de.
tailed proposals Of the West
The link between suspendine
tests and cutting on weapons
production is an example. It is
undramatic, but officiels con-
slider it vital to any kind OF
effective disarmament scheme,
Hence ofhcial quarters often
search for ways Of sharpening
and dramatizing points Of the
Western position to put them
across to the rest Of the world.
Russian Move Probable
In the background there is
usually some feeling also that
II a means for genuine and le-
climate concession to Russia
can be found it may advance
prospects for East-West agree
ment-which are not too bright
at the moment.
Another source Of worry
among officials here is that
Russia may undertake in the
next meeting Of the U. N. Gen.
eral Assembly to force q re-
organization Of the whole ne
gotiating system.
Soviet leaders from Nikita
Khrushchev down have at
tackled the London talks in the
past as contributing nothing to
disarmament progress. A year
ago the Russians tried to get
the talks discontinued. Some
new attempt. officials figure,
seems almost certain to be
made In the General Assembly
session beginning September II.