Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-08-05
Geneva Talks
Recess; Herter
Blasts Soviet
Seek No Berlin
Improvement, U. S,
Secretary Charges
BY JOHN M. HIGHTOWER
Associated Press stan Writer


to annex West Berlin to the
Communist system.
Secretary of State Herter said
that as far as he had been able
to determine in almost ten
weeks Of negotiation the Soviet
Union is mot really interested
in improving the situation in
Berlin"
ut is interested in getting
the Western powers out of Ber-
lin," he said in his final speech
of the conference. Apparently
continued competitive coexist-
ence Of freedom and commu-
nism in Berlin is unrewarding
to the Soviet Union
THE Soviet proposals Tin the
conference) to date have
seemed to us to be designed
gradually to annex these peo-
pie (of West Berlin) to the
Communist system against
their will. This cannot be per-
mitted."
New Farley Expected
Mr.. Herter held the door
open to another round Of talks
among the foreign ministers,
perhaps late this year. A recess
agreement worked out last
night with Russia's Andrei A.
Gromyko was reported to leave
the date open.
Whether a new round will be
able to accomplish more than
the negotiations which began
here May II probably viii de-
pend on the outcome of the
discussions between President
Eisenhower and Soviet Premier
Khrushchev. The decision to
hold these talks has already
discounted the failure of the
foreign ministers at Geneva.
Mr.. Herter said the West had
been willing to accept a Berlin
agreement limited in time pro-
vided its rights in West Berlin
were not jeopardized. But he
declared that he and his coll
leagues had never been able to
get from Mr.. Gromyko q plain
answer" to the question of
what wc''ld happen to allied
rights in RuSsia's view if such
an agreement were made.
GromykO Nom Ommittal
Mr.. Gromyko would say ''let
us not answer that question" or
"let us wait and see," Eerter
said. and ANY such answer is
totally unacceptable to my gov
eminent"
The ministers had ready for
today'S closing session a 200
word communique registering
their failure to agree on the
future of Berlin. The phrasing
of the communique was de-
bated word by word last night
in a three-hour conference that
lasted 80 minutes beyond mid
might.
Agree on Recess
The ministers agreed to re-
cess the conference.-the end
Mt. But the date for resuming
negotiations was left open. Far
more important now are the
discussions Mr.. Eisenhower and
Mr.. Khrushchev will hold next
month in Washington and
later in Moscow.
The exchange of visits be-
tween the Soviet and Ameri-
can leaders lessened for the
time being the Soviet menace
to West Berlin. Were it not
for this prospective exchange,
the failure of the foreign min
listers to reach any accord on
Berlin might have created an
extremely hazardous situation.
There is increasing talk in
diplomatic quarters here, how
ever, that the new reprieve for
West Berlin has not been Sc
cured without cost. Mr.. Khru-
Shchev appears to have won
more from smart manipulation
of his Berlin threat than per-
haps even he bargained for.
The Soviet Premier has long
urged a summit meeting. But
recently he has seemed to want
even more to visit the United
States and talk directly with
Mr.. Eisenhower. The long nego-
tiations here proved Mr.. Khru-
shchev was unwilling to accept
Western terms for a Berlin set
Element in order to assure a
Big Four summit conference.
But Mr.. Khrushchev neverthe-
less has his invitation to Wash
ington, and possibly some new
approach to the broader sum-
nit will result from his talks
with the President.
No Softening Of Tactics
The Eisenhower Khrushchev
agreement to exchange visits
brought no softening of Soviet
tactics in the closing hours at
Geneva.
Mr.. Gromyko repeatedly made
a final effort to word the COM
munique so as to recognize
Communist East Germany as a
virtual participant in the con-
ference. The West adamantly