Evening star., 1961-05-08
.NATO
NAIO
Western Powers Will Stoy in Berlin
Despite Soviet Pressure, Rusk Says
Confined From First Page

At q subsequent American news
conference the answer WIS
phrased in q slightly different
way but 1t added UP to this:
The United States, Britain and
France are determined to main
tain rocklike firmneSS on Ber-
lin.
Mr.. Rusk reviewed the situa-
hon,in q number Of world trou-
bic spots in this light:
Cuba-The establishment Of
O Communist dictatorship in
the Western Hemisphere Sives
the Russians an opening for
subversion and infiltr alton.
This is q matter Of great con-
cern to the American people.
The Kennedy administration is
not concerned about the in
J ternal policies of Fidel Castro'S
, regime but at the international
implications. Cuba was cited as
an example Of a Communist
attempt to outflank NATO. Mr..
RuSk acknowledged the back
stage role the United States
Government played in the
abortive counter-revolution by
Cuban exileS on April II.
Southeast Asia-The United
, States wants q neutral Laos but
has been deeply disturbed by
Russian support for the Pathet
Lao rebels there. The United
States hopes a cease fire can
be accomplished and verified
in Laos. Mr.. RuSk still intends
to go to Geneva later this week
for a Laotian conference, but
Is not sure these talks will take
place.
The American secretary saw
the situation in neiehboring
South Wet Nam as being darker
than the Laotian picture. There.
he said. Communist inSurgent
forces have jumped from 5000
to 10000 and established con-
troll over wide areas. Loyal
South Wet Nam troops are
fighting bravely but they will
need to be expanded beyond
their present treaty limits.
The COngO-Some improve
ment noted in recent weeks.
The great need now is to re-
group Congolese troops into a
disciplined, dependable military
force and to restore the coun-
try's economic life. The West
cannot permit the Soviet Union
to establish a position Of power
in the Congo.
Revival Of Issue Seen
At a brief formal opening
session. Dirk U. Striker. the
new Secretary General Of the
15-nation alliance, also pre-
dicted Mr.. KhruShchev was
about to revive the Berlin aues-
tion-posSibly in new form.
The interwined Berlin and
German problem - long re-
garded as the most dangerous
cold war issue-hAS been
largely dormant now for almost
two years.
Conference sources said Mr..
Rusk saw the situation this
way:
Soviet militancy can be ex-
pected to increase all around
the periphery of the Western
world.
Mr.. Khruschev may seek to
throw the Western world off
balance by coming forward
with a few conciliatory ees-
lures.
Mr.. Rusk wants fuller con-
sultation between the IS mem
berS Of NATO. As an example,
he spoke with great candor
about Laos, South Wet Nam
and Cuba-all areas where the
Communist block is pressing
the West.
The American Secretary said
the happenings in those places
were not isolated incidents but
part of 4 co-ordinated Soviet
testing Of Western intentions
and a probing for weak spots.
He predicted this sort Of thing
would continue.
Mr.. Rusk also reviewed the
prospects for the deadlocked
three-power nuclear test ban
negotiations in Geneva. Rus
sia's demand for q three-man
control board to replace q nell
tral administrator dimS not
only the chance Of securing a
nuclear test treaty but also
BODIES i'll for general diSarma-
ment negotiations, Mr.. Rusk
explained.
No Attest Decision
The United States Govern
ment has made no decision yet
on whether to resume under
ground nuclear testing. Mr..
Rusk said. He promised that
America would consult fully
with its NATO allies on the
whole field Of disarmament.
In addition to urging fuller,
early consultation among the
NATO members, Mr.. Rusk at
the current meeting will also
urge 4 buildup of NATO's con-
ventional military forces 50 1t
can answer small fire alarms
with something besides an all
out nuclear response. Nuclear
weapons, meanwhile, would be
kept at the ready.
On the United States Atti-
tude toward Berlin and Ger
many Mr.. Rusk was emphatic,
according to q spokesman who
briefed newsmen. He was
quoted as saying the United
States would regard conclusion
Of a separate Soviet-East Ger
man peace treaty aS q violation
of existing four-power agree
vaAV1tR