Evening star., 1963-02-10
al.-E - 80 n
Rusk-D Dobrynin Conference Ranges
From Castro to Laos and Test Ban
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ference Thursday that the So
Wet military presence in Cuba
is a matter Of very serious con-
Germ to the American govern
ment.
Mr.. Dobrynin called at the
State Department at Secretary
Rusk's request. Upon emerg-
ing he said that the secretary
and he had discussed Laos,
disarmament, atomic tests and
Cuba. When asked who did the
talking about Cuba, he grinned
and replied, Cant you guess2"
Mr.. Dobrynin said "some
other things" we're touched on,
but a State Department spokes-
man said the hour and Is
minute meeting was about
equally divided among the four
specified topics. There seems
to be no doubt, however, that
the real reason for the session
was that Mr.~Kennedy and Mr..
Rusk wanted to press for the
removal of Soviet forces from
Cuba at the earliest possible
date.
Concern Over Laos
Both Ambassador Dobrynin
and the State Department
spokesman said that mo
papers we're exchanged" which
meant that Mr.. ,,Rusk did not
hand the ambassador any
written message from the Pres
ident for Mr.. Khrushchev at
the meeting.
Laos was discussed, inform
ants said, because there has
been increasing concern here
over the activities Of the Com
munist-controlled Pathet Lao
forces in the little Southeast
Asian kingdom.
Russia and the United States
are both committed to the neu-
trality, Of Laos but American
officials feel that the Pathet
Lao has not been cooperating
with the neutralist government
of Premier Souvanna Phouma.
Mr.. Rusk expressed concern
on this point to Mr.. Dobrynin
and is believed to have pointed
out that aircraft supplying
anti-Communist forces in Pa
thet Lao territory have been
fired on.
Disarmament and the related
matter of nuclear test ban talks
were discussed because Mr..
Kennedy and Mr.. Rusk still
hold some hope that it may be
possible to get test ban agree
ment with Russia in negotia-
tions to be resumed In Geneva
Tuesday. The recent last round
of talks among the United
States, Britain and Russia was
called off by the Russians. In
their three weeks duration
there was no sign Of progress
in reconciling East-West diff
ferences on Inspection issues.
Administration leaders are
extremely skepticd Of Mr.. |
Khrushchev's explanation that |
Russian troops are in Cuba
only to train Cubans in the use
of advanced weapons. United |
States officials recall that So
Wet leaders gave false assur-
ances last fall while they were I
sending nuclear missile forces
into Cuba. N s ~ ''ea
Organized Into Units
An estimated 5000 OF the
Soviet soldiers are organized
into four heavily armed. highly |
mobile units and United States
officials said such forces were
certainly not required for train
ing Cuban units. The specula-
ton favored here is that Mr..
Xhrushchev has troops in Cuba
to. protect advanced weapons
bases still under Soviet COM
mand. Evidently Mr.. Khru-
shchev has no intention of
lifting them fall into Cuban
Prime Minister Fidel Castro's
hands at this time.
Since Mr.. Kohler's return to
Washington 10 days ago, there
have been several Developments
bearing heavily on United
States-Soviet relations. Some
of these show weaknesses in
the Western alliance which Mr..
Kennedy believes Mr.. Khru-
shehev Is determined TO exploit
If possible. Apparently one Of
Mr.. Kohler's tasks win be TO try
to remind Mr.. Khrushchev that
the Western powers, including
France. have always rallied in
the face Of Soviet threats or
aggressive actions.
Administration leaders believe
Mr.. Khrushchev would like to
improve relations with The
United States.
Under United States diplo-
matte pressure and the rising
cost OF his program for support
OF Mr., Castro, Mr.. Khrushchev
may be prevailed upon TO take
a careful new look at his Cuban
policy. In fact, United States
leaders are privately convinced
that Mr.. Khrushchev intends
to take most OF the Soviet
weapons and all Of the combat
troops out OF Cuba and leave
only such equipment as he is
willing TO turn over 10 the
cubans when they understand
how 10 use II.