Evening star., 1962-07-24
MenOn Scores
Soviet k-Tests
In Geneva Talk

lit Uenevd Idk
g.
GENEVA, July "A (AP)-
With Soviet Foreign Minister
Andrei Gromyko listening, In
dian Defense Minister v. K.
Krishna Menon today told the
17-nation disarmament confer
ence he deeply regretted the
Soviet decision to resume nu-
clear testing.
Z Mr.. Menon said the Soviet
announcement last week was
sproof that the arms race is
spiraling." He said it under
lined an urgent need for a test
ban.
Mr.. Gromyko followed by ac-
cusing the Western powers of
blocking progress in the con-
ference. He said they sought a
paradise for North Atlantic
Treaty Organization spies in
their disarmament control pro-
poSals.
Mr.. Gromyko stated bluntly
that the conference has mot
really moved the cause Of dis
armament one step forward"
{ He urged a 'busineSs-like and
constructive" approach to the
problem, but presented no new
proposals from the Soviet side.
He insisted that the Soviet
Union must stick to one Of the
chief points resisted by the
United States and other West
efn powers-that the first stage
Of disarmament includes de-
struction Of all nuclear
weapons.
"The question Of the prohibi-
tfon Of nuclear weapons can
not be removed from the
agenda. It's solution is awaited
by all peoples for it directly
affects their lives and welfare"
he declared.
Mr.. Gromyko said the West
ern powers block constructive
work on Soviet proposal by
control demands which would
indeed be a paradise for the
NATO intelligence services"
Secretary Of State Rusk later
said he regretted the Soviet re-
sumption Of nuclear testing and
commented: 81 never knew
where the idea came from about
the right to test last"
even after more than 40
Soviet tests" Mr.. Rusk said,
the United States had offered |
to sign a nuclear test treaty |
that would have allowed in
spection of less than one-two |
thousandth of Soviet territory |
per year. And this was not ac-
cepted."
. Mr.. Rusk said the resumed |
Soviet testing makes it all the |
more imperative that our talks
here succeed"
stMr. Menon's speech was es-
sentially q pep talk to prod the
deadlocked conference, which
has been meeting without prog
ress since March IL.
without mentioning the
United States smuclear tests
specifically. he sharply con-
demned all atomic weapons
tests. He also emphasized that
steps must be taken to prevent
wider distribution of nuclear
weapons.
'FruitIess" Debate
Canadian Foreign Minister
Howard Green also deplored
the Soviet resumption Of test
ing and declared his govern
ment is opposed to all nuclear
weapon tests. He accused the
three nuclear powers-the So
Wet Union. United States and
Britain-of blocking progress
with "a largely fruitless de-
bate" over interpretation of a
neutralist compromise formula
which the two sides read in
different ways.
He called on the delegates to
resist "a growing tendency :.
to accept a return to the Gen
eral Assembly with virtually
no progress to report" He also
warned against "a temptation
to spend the intervening weeks
in building up a case for blam-
ing others for failure to achieve
results here in Geneva. He
appealed to the delegates to
get things going by concentrat-
ing on areas where progress
could be achieved.
Lord Home, Britain's foreign
secretary. called distrust the
stumbling block of the confer
ence. He said the question Of
disarmament verification can
not be solved as long as there
Is no mutual confidence among
the nations.
Unless we can solve that"
ne said, I'VE might as well give
UP our effort here =. ;"
The disarmament conference
recessed its plenary sessions
Thursday to make way for the
windup Of the 14-nation con-
ference on Laos and furry
OF foreign ministers meetings
on Berlin.
Like disarmament, the Ber-
lin dispute is no closer to
settlement. However, Mr.. Gro
myko invited Secretary Rusk
to lunch today for more talks
on the issue which both the
United States and the Soviet
Union consider the most vola-
tile Of all East-West disputes.