davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-06-28
Hos No Information
On Soviet TESTING

A. No, we do not. This is a
matter which the committee
will look into. In answer to
your question I have not seen
any information nor did the
previous administration, have
any knowledge which would
state that the Soviet Union
had been teSting-information
either by Seismography or by
any other means.
What is Of concern is, is il
possible to test without those
evidences being secured? Is il
possible to test underground
for example, without a determi-
nation being made that such q
test is being carried on? That
Is the matter which we wish to
have explored.l 1 f l
But 1t would be inaccurate tc
state that we have information
that would indicate to us that
the Soviet Union Is now testing
What we are concerned about il
that our information Is quite
incomplete and we want tc
know if it is possible that they
could be testing without our
knowing and what the chances
are that that might be true.
Q. Mr.. President, it has been
almost six weeks, sir, since the
conference on Laos has been
under way. There seems to
have been little progress, al
least little understanding, be-
tween the two sides.
Do you consider 1t worth
while to continue the confer
ence? ~
A. Yes. The cease fire i.
generally in operation. What
we are now concerned about
are the details Of the ICC
power. I am hopeful that we
can secure an effective-that
We can secure effective instruc.
tion for the ICC so that II
can meet its responsibilities.
would continue the converse.
tions to see If that can be
Obtained.
Evening star., 1961-06-28
PRESIDENT SAYS
HE'S FEELING
VERY WELL

President Kennedy re-
ported today that he is
feeling Every we'll"
Asked at his news con-
ference about his health in
view Of his back ailment
and the mild virus infec-
ton he suffered last week,
the President responded:
VERY well. Very well.
I am feeling better even
than Pierre Salinger."
Mr.. Salinger is the Pres
ident's 36-year-old press
secretary who maintains a
fast and unrelenting pace
in discharging his duties.
The President showed no
trace Of his back condition
and walked without a limp
as he strode rapidly onto
the platform for the news
conference in the State
Department Auditorium,
Evening star., 1961-06-28
Contingency Plans
Under Study Here

Y. MI. PRESIDENT, realizing
that the AcheSon and other
contingency reports have not
yet been finished, could you
nevertheless give us at least a
hint this morning in what
areas the public may be in
volved in supporting your
strong stand on Germany? ]
ask that question against this
background: That it is gen.
orally considered that your
words to Mr.. KhruShchev in
Vienna were highly impressive,
but it is necessary to follow
them up with decisions and
deeds.
A. Yes, that is a matter
which is now engaging the at
tention of the United States
Government. 1t is one of the
matters which will be discussed
at the Security Council tomor-
row. But as Of now, no report
OF the deliberations of the
Pentagon and others as to what
actions might be usefully taken
have been finalized.
In addition. I would point
out that we are talking about
matters Of extreme seriousness
and I think we should wait
until a judgment has been
reached as to what action we
should take before it is useful
to discuss it publicly. AS of
today, these considerations and
recommendations have not yet
come to the White House.
One of the matters which
will be discussed, as I say to-
morrow will be this matter in
the Security Council.
@. Mr.. President, sir, can
something be done to require
mortgage bankers to quit en-
riching themselves off the FHA
system Of making loans? I
refer to many complaints that
are coming into FHA. on this
Evening star., 1961-06-28
States His Views
On Tractor Deal

@. Mr.. President, in some
retrospect. how do you now view
the Cuban tractor deal? 1t
seems pretty well off. What is
the next move there2 How do
you plan to get those prisoners
out Of there now?
A. Well, the tractors - the
committee attempted to offer
Mr.. Castro, as I understand it,
500 agricultural tractors, which
he mentioned in his original
speeeh.s Mr.. Castro has not
accepted these agrcultural trac-
tors. but he is insisting on a
different kind Of tractor. far
larger. which could be used for
other purposes besides agricul-
tures The committee has there-
fore felt that Mr.. Castro is not
interested In permitting these
| prisoners to be released In re-
turn for agricultural tractors.
Unless he changes his view, the
situation win remain as it is. !
wish the prisoners could be free.
I wish that it had been possible
to secure, their release, because
they are. as I said in my first
statement, men whom we, have
a great interest In and who are
devoted to the calls of freedom.
But / think the committee did
everything that reasonable men
and citizens could do. They
were motivated by humanitar-
ian interests. I think that they
demonstrated by exploring with
Castro in detail exactly the
nature of CaStro'S interest. If
our first response had been
negative, it might have been
possible for Mr.. Castro to say
that we had refused to send
agricultural tractors in return
for these men. The committee
went to every conceivable length
in order to demonstrate their
good faith. Mr.. Castro would
not accept it.
@. Mr.. President. I think we
would like to hear you say
how you are feeling now.
A. Very well. Very well. I am
feeling better even than Pierre
Salinger.
@. Mr.. President, with
respect to the Cuban operation,
would you tell us what Gen
Taylor'S findings were, and,
too. what reorganization or ad-
juStment in our intelligence
activities you contemplate as q
result Of this report.
A. Gen. Taylor made on oral
report to me which I asked
him to make, and which ]
think will be useful to me. In
addition. of course, Gen. Taylor
has been-is now a member oi
the staff of the White House
as our military representative
with special responsibilities ir
the fields Of defense matters
and intelligence and co-ordina-
ton in those areas.
Evening star., 1961-06-28
Concerned on Issue
OF Textile Industry

So while am concerned,
and I am concerned. about the
problem Of the textile industry,
which is one of the reasons why
this conference was called as
the result Of the protests which
were made by members of Con-
gress because the imports have
increased in the textile in
dustry, it is hard-hit-I think
they have increased in recent
months or recent years from
around AZ to Z per cent:
therefore, the trend is against
has been sharply-has' pro-
vided for increases.
I do feel we ought to take
into account that this is q
balanced matter. In addition,
some Of the States which sell
cotton overseas, which may be
adversely affected by textile
imports, we also export a lot
of textiles. We also, for ex-
ample, export tobacco, which
is an export product.
So we have to consider the
general economic interest. We
cannot expect that we will cut
off completely the exports of
textiles and then we have ruin
for our cotton exports. It has
to be balanced. The way the
economic interests Of all can
be balanced is in this confer
ence, and I support it.
@. Mr.. President, without re-
spect there to the current mar
thine strike, do you plan to
take any action on the Ameri-
can-owned flags of convenience
or runaway ships, as you once
described them?
A. Well, we are concerned,
as I have said before, about
the problem of runaway ships
in the sense that ships which
are put by American owners un-
der other flags in order to avoid
paying the wage scale which
we have for our American
merchant marine, the United
States Government pays q
large share Of the bill for i'm
portant segments Of the Amer
Evening star., 1961-06-28
Pledges Full Review
Of Groups Findings

These answers will be re-
ceived and reviewed by myself.
by the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and the National Security
Counsel in the light Of what
they mean to the security Of
the free world. In the mean
time, our negotiating team will
remain at Geneva.
Our draft treaty Is on the
table there, and I urge the
leaders of the Soviet Union to
end their intransigence and to
accept a reasonable and en-
forceable treaty which is our
wholehearted desire.
And lastly, Chairman Khru-
shchev has compared the
United States to a worn-oue
runner living in its past per-
forlnance, and stated that the
Soviet Union would out-produce
the United States by 1910.
without wishing to trade
hyperbole with the chairman,
II do suggest it reminds me Of
the tiger hunter who has picked
a place on the wall to hang
the tigers skin long before he
has caught the tiger. This
tiger has other ideas.
Premier Khrushchev states
that the Soviet Union is only
| l44 years old. but his country is
lfar older than that. and 1t Is
an interesting fact that in
1913, according to the best call
lculations I can get from gov
Iernmental and private sources.
THE Russian gross national
product was 46 per cent Of the
United Etates' gross national
product. Interestingly enough,
/ in 1859 it was a per cent. )
Because while the Soviet
Union was making progress
and improving the material
standards Of her people in the
ensuing years, so was the tired
out runner. and on a per cap
| ita basis, the Soviet product
in 1859 was only SO per cent
| of ours.
Evening star., 1961-06-28
Says Situotion
Is Not Isolated
They cannot merely {

They cannot merely consider
1t isolated. This is q compete
tive business, and we could very
well find insteaed Of flags Of
convenience or So-called rum
away ships that the ships were
actually-and in those cases
the American, the United States
Government has some control
over the ships-it would actu-
ally put them under the flags
or of contractual relationship
with the British or the Norwe-
gians and then we would not
have the control in case of a
national emergency and still be
undercut.
1t is an extremely compli-
Gated question to which Secre-
tary Goldberg and the Secre-
tary Of Commerce and the
members Of the committee are
giving a good deal Of attention.
@. Mr.. President. in consid-
ering the resumption of nu-
clear testing, have you re-
quested or do you propose to
request a report and recon-
mendation from the Federal
Radiation Council regarding
the consequences Of fall-out
that may result from such a
resumption Of tests?
A. All these matters, of
course, will be considered be-
fore any decision will be
reached.
@. Mr.. President, how do you
feel now in retrospect about
summit meetings and do you
foresee any more of them in
the future?
A. Well, I have never de-
Scribed the meeting in Vienna
as a summit meeting. I think
the meeting in Vienna was USE
full, certainly to me in meeting
my responsibilities. Perhaps
it was also to Mr.. Khrushchev.
Because as I have said from
the beginning, these issues
which we are not talking about
are extremely serious issues
which involve the well being
of a great many people, besides
even the people of the United
States, and decisions have to
be made on the basis of the
best information we can get.
They involve the security of
the United States and they in
volve also the peace of the
world, and, therefore, if those
decisions can be made more
educated by such a meeting, 1t
was useful. And there are no
plans to have any further
meetings that I know of.
Evening star., 1961-06-28
Text Of President Kennedy's Press Conference

Following Is the tert of
President Kennedy's press
conference today:
! want to first of all express
my regret at the information I
have Just received in regard to
the death of our colleague in
these press conferences and a
fine newspaperman, Ed Ko-
'terba, who ! understand was
killed in a plane crash last
night. He was an outstanding
newSpaperman. He was as
sociated with Scripps-Howard.
I want to express our sympathy
to members of his family and
lalso to papers with which he
was associated. I want to say
personally that I am extremely
sorry to have heard the news.
Secondly, I should like to
comment briefly on Germany
and Berlin. Soviet and East
German leaders have followed
the recent Soviet aide memoir
with speeches which were ap-
parently designed to heighten
tension. 1t is Of the greatest
Importance that the American
people understand the basic
issues involved and the threats
to the peace and security Of
Europe and of ourselves posed
by the Soviet announcement
that they intend to change
unilaterally the existing ar
rangements for Berlin.
The "criSis" over Berlin is
Soviet-manufactured. The So
viets illegally blockaded the
city in 1948 and lifted the
blockade in the spring Of 1949.
From that time until Novem-
ber, 1958-almost a decade
the situation in Berlin was
relatively peaceful. The peo-
Piles of West Berlin developed a
vital and thriving city. We
carried out our responsibilities
and exercised our rights Of ac-
cess to the city without serious
incident, although we were
never completely free from ir-
ritating difficulties that were
put In our way.
Evening star., 1961-06-28

level Of low-priced imports in
the future.
Gould you tell US whether
this State Department plan has
your unqualified support, or
whether you would favor modi-
flying it to meet the congress
sional objection?
A. In the first place, there
is no plan yet. No solution has
been devised to this problem
of how we are going to pro-
vide for an orderly flow Of
textiles from the newly emerg-
ing countries which concentrate
on this kind of commodity, and
how we are going to provide
for orderly flow between those
countries and the consuming
countries, so that we protect
the interests of the producing
countries and the consuming
countries. 1t is an extremely
complicated task. No decision
has been reached as to what
the formula would be.
It is proposed that we dis
cuss the formula. ! think that
the conference should 90 or
and we should discuss 1t. II
we come to any conclusion
about what should be done, and
We have not reached that con-
clusion as yet, we win inform
the American people and the
members Of the Congress.
I do want to point out that
we do export nearly z million
bales of cotton every year. We
sell more cotton in Japan than
we import in textiles from all
over the world. This is not q
matter on which we can say
we will take no import. and al
the same time feel that we can
continue to provide this tre-
mendous outflow of cotton.
We export nearly 2 million
bales Of cotton every year. We
import a total Of about 100000
bales of cotton manufactured
into textiles a year, so that we
have to consider the economic
interests of the United States
as well as other people. We
sell Japan, I think-last year
we sold them $3.50 million more
than they bought from US total
Evening star., 1961-06-28

problems Of Bolivia. So we
are attempting to do something
about Latin America, and there
is bound to be q ferment. If
the ferment produces a useful
result. it will be worthwhile.
But I must say I don't think
in my experience you can get
very much done when things
are very quiet and beautifully
organized. I think that is the
time to be concerned, not when
there is some feeling and in
tereSt and concern.
In addition, Gov. Stevenson
went down and made a tour
there as a prelude to our meet
ing In Montevideo which was
useful. So I think we have
given more thought in this ad-
ministration to the problem of
Latin America than any other
problem Of foreign policy. When
Mr.. Woodward comes In next
week, he will be the responsible
officer in the State Depart
ment, and win work closely, /
am sure, with the Secretary of
State, and with me.
Q. Do you feel that the Ber-
lin threat is serious enough for
you to plan a personal meeting
with the British and French to
map our strategy there if the
situation becomes indeed very
hot?
A. It is 9 matter which we
discussed with Gen. de Gaulle
and Mr.. Macmillan. In addi-
ton, Mr.. Hume was here, the
French government has had a
representative as well as the
British government, talking
about the response to the side
memoire. ! have no doubt we
will have close exchanges with
MIR. Macmillan and Gen. de
Gaulle. When the matter
reaches a point where a meet
ing would be useful, we would
have it.
@. Mr.. President, on your
statement this morning about
the committee to go into the
extent Of information on So
Wet testing, is there any sug-
geStion here, sir, that we nave
an intelligence gap in this
field. or to specify, did not the
Eisenhower administration and
does not your administration
pretty well know what the So
viets have been doing in nu-
clear testing during this time?
A. No-in what way?
Q. I just wondered if you had
information about what testing
they may have been doing.
Evening star., 1961-06-28
u. S. Growth Rote
Easier to Sustain

If both countries sustain
their present rate Of growth,
31a per cent in the Soviet Un-
ion, Soviet output will not
reach two-thirdS Of ours by
1870.
Our rate will be far easier to
sustain or improve than the
Soviet rate, which starts from
a lower figure. Indeed, If our
growth rate is increased to even
41a per cent, which is well
within our capability, it is my
Judgment that the Soviet Un-
ion will not out-produce the
United States at any time IN
the goth century. This faster
growth rate is a primary object
of the various measures I have
submitted and will submit IN
the future-tax incentives, ed
ucation, resource development,
research, area development,
and all the rest.
Mr.. Khrushchev obviously
sees the future differently thar
we do, and he has urged hi'
people to work hard to develop
that future. We in the United
States must work hard, too, tt
realize our potential. But
believe that we can maintain
our productive development
and also our system of freedom
We invite the USSR to engage
in this competition which Ii
peaceful, and which could only
result in a better living stand
ard for both of our peoples
In short, the United States Il
not such an aged runner, anc
| to paraphrase Mr.. Coolidge
1--WE do choose to rum"
@. Mr.. President, would yol
care to comment on recurren'
reports that the administration
is considering a partial mo-
bilization to meet the threat o.
Berlin?
A. No such proposal has beer
placed before me at the presen
time. AS you know, this mat
ter of what steps we woulC
take to implement our commit
ments to Berlin have been
matter of consideration. MI
Acheson, the former Secretar.
Iof State, was named to con
slider this matter in the middl
Of April, and his report vii
be coming in. We are goinl
to discuss it this week, and W
will be considering other pro
posals which might be put for
ward in order to make mean
Evening star., 1961-06-28
Praises BerIe Role
On Latin Policy

We have been fortunate to
have the services Of Mr.. Berle,
who is completing the work OF
his task force. Mr. Goodwin
from the White House has
given a great deal of attention
particularly the meeting of the
Council in Montevideo, at the
end Of July. The whole re-
financing of the Brazil debt
which could have been a most
serious crisis in that very vital
country, which was handled
in cooperation between the
Treasury, the White House,
the State Department, the Ex-
port-Import Bank, Food for
Peace and ICA.
We have also given particu-
lar attention to the economic
Evening star., 1961-06-28
Permanent Partition
Called Red Purpose

In November, 1858, the So
viets began a new campaign
to force the allied powers out
Of Berlin, q program which led
up to the abortive summit con-
ference in Paris in May Of last
year. Now they have revived
that drive. They call upon us
to sign what they call a peace
treaty" with the regime that
they have created in East Ger
many.
If we refuse, they say they
themselves will sign such a
treaty" The obvious purpose
here is not to have peace, but
to make permanent the parti-
ton Of Germany.
The Soviets also say that
their unilateral action in sign
ing a peace treaty" with East
Germany would bring an end
to allied rights to be in West
Berlin and to have free access
to that city.
It is clear that such unilateral
action can not affect these
rights, which stem from the
surrender of Nazi Germany
Such action would simply be q
repudiation BY the Soviets Of
multilateral commitments tc
which they solemnly subscribe
aud have repeatedly affirmed
about the exercise Of the rights
Of the principal powers associ-
atsd in World War II,
n the sSoviets thus withdraw
from their own obligations. II
iseiearly a matter for the other
three allies to decide how they
viii exercise their rights and
meet their responsibilities. But
the Soviets say that when we
do so, we will be subject to the
designs Of the East German
regime and that these designs
win be backed by force.
Recent statements by leaders
of this regime make it very
plain that the kind of "free
city" which they have in mind
is one in which the rights OF
the citizens of West Berlin are
gradually but relentlessly ex-
tinguished. In other words, a
city which is not free.
Evening star., 1961-06-28

problems he has and his ether
problems, but don't have any
response to make. We do the
best we can. We will continue
to do so until 1864, and then
we can see what the situation
looks like.
Q. Mr.. President, you said II
the United States can attain
a greater growth than AZ per
cent, that Russia will not catch
up with us in the goth century
What is our rate Of growth
now, sir?
A. Well, covering it from
1858 to today, it Is about 3la
per cent.
@. What are We doing to at
tain a rate growth Of AZ per
cent?
A. Well, I hope our rate OF
growth from the recession OF
1860, the winter of 196l-we
ought to have q substantial
rate Of increase. The big prob
lem will be to sustain it over
q period Of time. And that will
require-I mentioned some OF
the thingS-a tax system which
provides q stimulation Of
growth, education and re-
search; also the development
Of the natural resources Of this
country, and also monetary
and fiscal policies which will
recognize the necessity OF pre-.
venting q recurrence of these
successive dips. Now, we had
a recession in "a, we had O
recess in SO, we had a recess
sion in go. The 80 recession
came right on the heels of the
'58 recession.
Two Of the reasons why il
may have contributed was the
movement from a $l2 billion
deficit in $3.50 to an effective
81 billion surplus, which was
a change of more than $lt
billion in the potential receipts
Of the Government which die
have q restraining influence
on the recovery.
Evening star., 1961-06-28

ingful our commitments. But
the proposals are still-have
not come to the White House
officially, and I am therefore
not able to comment because
we have not seen any such
proposal as you suggested at
the present time, though of
course we will be considering
a whole variety of measures
which might be taken.
Evening star., 1961-06-28
Says Issue Involves
Security of the West

No one can fail to appreciate
the gravity Of this threat. No
one, can reconcile it with the
Soviet professions Of a desire
to "co-exist" peacefully. This
is not just a question Of tech
meal legal rights. It involves
the peace and security of the
peoples of West Berlin. It in
wolves the direct responsible
ties and commitments of the
United States, the United
Kingdom, and France. 1t in
wolves the peace and the secu-
rity of the Western World.
In the interest of our own
vital security, we and other
Western countries entered into
defense arrangements in direct
response to direct Soviet moves
following World War II. These
alliances are wholly defensive
in nature, but the Soviets
would make a grave mistake if
they suppose that allied unity
and determination can be un-
dermined by threats of fresh
aggressive acts. There is
peace in Germany and in Ber-
lin. If it is disturbed, it will
be a direct Soviet responsibility
There is a danger that to-
talitarian governments not
subject to vigorous popular de-
bate will underestimate the
will and unity of democratic
societies where vital interests
are concerned. The Soviet
government has an obligation
both to its own people and tc
the peace of the world to rec
ogzine how vital is this COM
mitment.
We would agree that there
is unfinished business to bI
settled as concerns Germany
For many years the. Western
nations have proposed a perma
nent and peaceful settlemen
of such questions on the basi
Of self-determination of tn
German people. Moreover, W,
shall always be ready to dis
cuss any proposals which woult
give increased protection tt
the right of the people o
Berlin to exercise their indie
pendent choice as free mer