Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-18
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CONFER ENCE /
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build up the German Commu-
mist regime.
An East German spokesman /
said, however, 1T seems that
secret talks may lead to some
success. so we are not against
secret talks even when no Ger
mans are present"
Gromyko Favorable
Mr.. Gromyko was reported |
to have told Foreign Minister
Lothsr Bolz of East Germany
that he was prepared to 60 into
limited, private talks with Mr..
Herter. British Foreign Secre-
tary Selwyn Lloyd and Mr..
COVE de Murville.
As today's meeting opened
at the Palace Of Nations, a So
Wet informant said Mr.. Gro
myko planned to make a state
ment. mild in tone. on the
Western proposals for a Ger
man settlement linked with
disarmament and European
security measures.
This informant also said Mr..
Gromyko Is prepared to engage
in private talks.
It Is in such talks. Western
officials privately concede, that
the West will find out whether
there is a solution for the Ber-
lin crisis short Of resort to the
military.
Mr.. Couve de Murville was
smiling when he left the meet
ing of Western ministers. He
and the West German Foreign
Minister, Heinrich Won Bren-
tano, chatted privately for
about a minute. Asked about
the conference Mr.. Won Bren-
tano said only good. good"
Pierre Baradug, Frenc h
spokesman. said everything is
going we'll. He referred to the
joint statement and said I'VE
are completely in agreement. "
The Western statement was
issued in an apparent attempt
TO calm the dispute.
The United States and British
delegations let it be known over
the week end that they felt
Russia'S adamant rejection of
the Western package proposal
for German identification and
a European security system
necessitated negotiations on the
Immediately pressing question
Of Berlin.
Package Breakup Denied
French and West German
officials insisted on continued
Arm support for the package
program and a very tough line
in negotiating with Mr.. Gro
myko.
Tie joint Western statement
denied that the allies had de-
cided to break up the Western
package plan and concentrate
on q Berlin settlement.
It said the Western powers
had already stated that the
various questions included ir
the tWestern packagel plar
can be discussed one by one
But as they are, in fact, al
connected, they cannot be set
tied in isolation"
Gas to Berlin" the state.
ment said, 1.-THE Western for
eign ministers expect to discuss
this problem along the line o.
the proposals on Berlin con.
tanned In Phase I of the West.
ern peace plan"
The plan proposes that Yves
and East Berlin be united b,
free elections and the unifieC
city be guaranteed by the BIZ
Four. This would be the frs
step toward German reunifica
ton.
Conference on Strategy
The statement was issue,
after Mr.. Herter and othe
Western foreign ministers me
at Mr.. Herter's headquarter
to line up their strategy.
The staten mt said the West
ern ministers expect to ex
plore in greater detail the sig
niflcance Of the Western peac
plan and to demonstrate to tn
Soviet government that tn
Western proposals have gon
far toward meeting its views. "
What the statement did no
say was what the Western po
sition will be when - as ex
pected-the Berlin proposal 1
the package plan is rejected b
Mr.. Gromyko.
The problem will remain q
what to do about Berlin
avoid a possible military show
down with Russis. Some stor
gap solution win have to b
worked out. If possible.
That is what British an
American diplomats have bee
saying privately TO newsmel