Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-02-22
Kennedy Says
Russia Holds
Atom Pact Key
BY EARL II. VOSS
Star staff Writer

President Kennedy has In
troduced q new thought into
the nuclear test ban treaty pic
ture by suggesting it would be
UP to Russia to decide whether
to break the treaty II France
tested in defiance Of the agree
ment.
France, which has conducted
five nuclear tests in the Sa-
hara, Is not cooperating In
test ban talks and has indi-
Gated it would not join in a
treaty.
Previously 1t has been widely
assumed 1t would be the United
States main responsibility to
obtain the cooperation of
France in banning nuclear
tests.
Communist China is also re-
ported to be racing to test its
first nuclear weapon. BY ex-
tension Of the Presidents the
DRY, 1t would be up to the
United States to break the
treaty If Red China were to
test.
In the past, the Soviet Union
has been considered responsible
for keeping its uneasy ally.
Communist China, from break
ing an agreed test ban.
President Knnedy told his
press conference yesterday the
United States would consult
with the Soviet Union and
Great Britain on whether to
abrogate q test ban treaty or
to take other underlined action
If any country, France included,
were to test after q treaty was
signed.
He indicated that the fear
that more nations would be-
come nuclear powers II no test
ban were achieved remained
his main motive in seeking q
treaty.
The President said he ex-
pected that by springtime the
world should know whether
the Soviet Union Is ready for o
test ban, but he resisted Dem
ocratic Senator Humphreys
idea Of getting an April /
deadline for reaching an agree
ment.
Russia and the United States
still "are quite far apart" on
details Of q nuclear test ban
treaty, however. the President
said.
With congressional leaders Of
both parties in mind, the Presi-
dent remarked that "a good
many people are opposed to
this effort" for a test ban.
Earlier yesterday a fellow DEM
ocrat. Senator Dodd of Con-
necticut, announced on the
Senate floor he would vote
against a treaty Incorporating
President Kennedy's proposals.
Concessions Cited
The United States has made
$50 many grave concessions in
the course of the test ban ne
gotiations," the Senator said,
that conscience would compel"
him to oppose such q treaty.
Development Of the neutron
bomb and anti-missile missile,
"on which we know the Soviets
to be working" would be pre-
cluded without assurance that
the Soviet development would
also stop, Senator Dodd
warned.
He listed IL major conces-
sions" to the Soviet Union in
test ban negotiations that "can
be traced back to the initial IL
fusion that the Kremlin could
be trusted or that it would al
least not endeavor to cheat II
a test ban treaty were con-
cluded."
He indicated that the Amer
lean attitude toward a nuclear
test ban issue, disarmament
and other issues involving Rus
STA are affected by the con-
tinued presence Of Soviet troops
in Cuba.
I'VE believe 1t creates ten
sion In the Caribbean" the
President said. land also makes
1t more difficult for US to ad-
just our other problems be-
tween the Soviet Union and the
United States as long as this is
being used as a military base
by the Soviet Union"
One Of the main problems IN
the test ban negotiations is to
find a suitable inspection sys-
tenn for policing q treaty ban
ming tests in all environments,
including space and under
ground.
Quite obviously. what hap
pens In Cuba affects our ability
to work out equitable arrange
ments" with the Soviet Union,
the President commented.
Asked. whether this applied
to Berlin. Mr.. Kennedy did
not reply directly. He ex-
pressed Doubts whether an
equitable solution can be
worked out in Berlin"
The United States is now
considering with its allies
whether there Is a satisfactory
basis for negotiations" on Ber-
lin, Mr.. Kennedy reported.
BY his definition Of negotia-
tons. the President seemed to
indicate he was considering
broadening the Soviet-Ameri-
can dialogue Of the past year
and-a-half TO include France
and Britain.