Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-12

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lin. Presumably this prospect
interests the allies enough to
cause them to keep the door
open.
Thus in London Deputy For
eign Secretary Edward Heath
told the House OF Commons
that ut Is welcome that MIR.
Khrushchev should have re-
sponded to the initiative of the |
President and the Prime Min
lister by accepting that there
should be beginning at q high
level. We are giving considera-
ton to the particular proposals
he has made"
Tests Not Mentioned
Premier Khrushchev made
no mention of nuclear weapons
testing in his letter to Presi-
dent Kennedy. similar versions
of which repeatedly have been
sent to the other Is heads of
government involved in the
Geneva disarmament negotia-
tons. High-level disarmament
negotiations could have an in
hibiting effect on the Ameri-
can decision about resumption
of atmospheric testing.
President Kennedy indicated
at his press conference last
Wednesday, however, that he
would not consider testing in
the atmosphere to be incon-
sistent with searching for safe
methods Of disarmament.
In their joint letter to Mr..
Khrushchev. Mr.. Kennedy and
Mr.. Macmillan said negotia-
tors should seek progress on
three levels. First, they should
work out a program of general
and complete disarmament to
serve as the basis for negotiat-
ing AN implementing treaty or
treaties" econd, ascertain
the widest measure of disarma-
ment which would be imple-
mented at the earliest possible
time while still continuing
their maximum efforts to
achieve agreement on those
other aspects which present
more difficulty" and third,
isolate and identify measures
Of disarmament which could, if
put into effect without delay
materially i'm prove interna-
tional security and the pros
poets for further disarmament
progress.
The joint proposal thus en-
visioned negotiations toward a |
small first step, a larger first
step and a comprehensive dis
armament plan.
Having foreign ministers
open the March IA disarma-
ment conference, the two lead
ers said, would be "a symbol
Of the Importance which we
jointly attach to these nego-
tiations:"
The two Western leaders
warned that 1.-The threatening
nature Of modern ornaments
is so appalling that we cannot
regard this problem as a rou-
tine one or as an issue which
may be useful primarily for
the scoring Of propaganda VIC
tories"
World leaders should now
forego fruitless attempts to ap-
portion blame" the letter said.
Our renewed effort must be
to seek and find ways in which
the competition between us,
which will surely persist for
the foreseeable future, can be
pursued on a less dangerous
level. We must view the forth
coming disarmament meetings
as an opportunity and a chal-
lenge which in time and history
may not once again allow U.S."
Mr.. Kennedy and Mr.. Mac
milan warned gravely that |
unless some means can be
found to make at least a start
in controlling the quickening |
arms competition, events may
take their own course and
erupt in a disaster which will
afflict all pepoles, those of the
Soviet Union as well as those
of the United Kingdom and
the United States"
Giving further weight to par
ticipation in disarmament ne
gotiations that the highest level.
the President and Prime Min
lister declared that the status
and progress of the conference
should be 1.-The subject of
more feruuent. communications
among the three of U.S."
The letter also suggested
that foreign ministers of Brit
ain, the United States and
Russia convene at Geneva be-
fore the March IA opening Of
the 10 nation disarmament
conference.
The Soviet Union and the
United States did agree last
September on a set of prin-
ciples for disarmament nego-
tiations. But they failed to
agree on a crucial point in
volving inspection and control.
The Soviet Union insisted
that only those arms being
strapped could be inspected.
not those remaining in national
arsenals or being manufac-
tured. The United States has
consistently maintained it must
know what the arms level of
other major powers is before
she can risk dismantling her