Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-03
West Due to Ask Gromyko
For Showdown on Berlin
BY JOHN HIGHTOwER
Associated Press Stan Writer

decided today to call for an
early showdown with Russia's
Andrei A. Gromyko In secret
talks over the Berlin crisis.
Secretary Of State Christian
A. Herter and ministers Of
Britain. France and West Ger
many agreed in a midday STRAIT
egg meeting. officials said. that
Mr.. Gromyko should be told
the time has come for Russia
which touched of the crisis
last November--to put UP new.
constructive proposals for q
solution.
Mr.. Gromyko's reaction to
this challenge. 1t was hoped,
should shortly disclose whether
the Geneva meeting has any
change Of success in easing the
East-West dispute on Berlin
and clearing the way for a
summit conference.
The Western ministers met
for an hour at United States
headquarters. They wound up
their strategy session a little
more than two hours before
another round Of secret talks
with Mr.. Gromyko at Mr..
Herter's villa.
Methods Considered
British Foreign Secretary Sell
wyn Lloyd was asked leaving
Mr.. Herter's Office after the
Western meeting whether the
ministers had talked about try
ing to get some firmer commit
ments from Mr.. Gromyko on
what he plans to do here.
I'VE reviewed the way in
which we will handle the meet
ing this afternoon" he said.
Earlier Mr.. Herter conferred
with the intelligence chief Of
United States European Army
headquarters at Heidelberg.
Germany. The chief, Maj. Gen.
Ralph M. Osborne. and Col.
Robert G. Lawlor, also of the =,
intelligence office, spent 30 min
utes talking with the Secretary
Of State.
An American spokesman said
the situation with regard to
Berlin was not appreciably adj
vanced" by MIR. Gromykos
statement to the Big Four con-
ference yesterday. |,
limitations Noted E
But British and French dip
lomats said Mr.. Gromyko's
speech was being studied with
extreme care because it con-
tanned intimations that the
Kremlin may be interested in
finding a way out Of the Berlin
deadlock. 3
These British and French
sources thought the next 48
hours of the conference-which .
SNOW in its fourth week
could prove to be the most .
critical Of the parley. with a
Berlin deal and q summit meet
ing depending on the outcome. !
Yesterdays conference Ses-
sion ran tor more than three
hours. resulting IN postpone
ment until this afternoon of a
private meeting Of the minis |
tiers originally scheduled for
last night. AS a result. the
Western ministers hao time to
study Mr.. Gromyko's speech in
detail.
-Four Points Cited
British and French experts
cited four points as possibly
significant:
/. Russia, Mr.. Gromyko as
serted, is not asking the United
States, Britain and France to
grant diplomatic recognition to
East Germany's Communist
government. something the
Western allies adamantly re-
fuse to do. Earlier in the con-
ference Mr.. Gromyko had
pressed arguments for recogni-
ton on the Western ministers.
Q. The Soviet Union does not
question the Western powers
legal right to have troops in
West Berlin although it con- .
siders the occupation of the
city is "outdated." Mr.. Gro
myko insisted some new ar
rangement must be made for
West Berlin.
3 Although he again called
for Standardization Of West
Berlin providing their number
guarantees, the Russian said his
government would agree to
Western troops remaining in
Berlin providing their number
is limited and Soviet troops also
are admitted T.,
4. Mr.. Gromyko urged the
Western three to join Russia in
trying to bring our positions
closer together On the surface
this appeared to be an appeal
for a serious effort at compro-
mise. However, 1t was to somei
extent offset by Mr.. Gromyko's
sweeping rejection at the outset
Of the Vests proposal to merge
West and East Berlin after free.
secret elections in both halves
Of the city.
Hints to Be Explored
Western officials said that If
Mr.. Gromyko is really limiting
at q willingness to compromise.
he will have to go a lot farther
before a basis Of agreement Is
In sight. But they added that
his hints will be explored fully
in succeeding conference ses-
sions.
The three Western ministers
have already told the Russian
their policy is Interchangeable on
three points: % They will not
bargain away their war-won
right to have troops in Berlin;
(2l They will not withdraw
their troops, and 49, They in
tend to keep open their supply
routes between West Berlin and
West Germany.
=