WR: SINO-SOVIET TALKS RESUME INAUSPICIOUSLY IN PEKING

Created: 1/9/1970

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SINO-SOVIET TALKS RESUME INMJSPICIOUSLY IN PEKING

Because of the virulence of recent Chinese polemical assaults on the USSR, Soviet diplomats in Peking are lass sanguine than before about prospects for early progress in discussions, which resumed this week.

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Sino-Soviet Talks Resume Inauspiciously In Peking

second round of theborder talks opened this week accompanied by rising propaganda exchangeshinly veiled war of nerves. Soviet delegation head Kuznetsov returned to Pekinganuary and talks reportedlythree days later. Unlike his reception last October, Kuznetsov was met at the airport by only lower ranking members of thedelegation, almost certainly because the Chinese wanted totheir unhappiness over hisalf week stay in Moscow. The announcement by the New China News Agency (NCNA) of his departure last month hadstated that he would be gone onlyeek.

Kuznetsov's arrival wasby strident Chineseassaults against Moscow,designed to show that Peking's resolve had not lessened and that it would continue its rough stance at the talks. An authoritative editorial onecember denounced Soviet party leader Brezhnev by name for the first time since the Chou-Kosygin meeting in September. On the very eve of the resumption of the talks, NCNA once again blasted the Soviet leadership,it of pursuing policies of nuclear blackmail.

For its part, Moscow relaxed its own polemical restraint and, while not matching Peking'sattacked China more openly and directly than at any time since the talks began. In addition, some of the more vicious anti-Mac

propaganda tracts, which hadfrom Moscow's bookstores after the Kosygin-Chau meeting, are reported to bo reappearing. Theprobably intend that Peking should interpret tho shiftn that their patience with the lack of progress is wearing thin.

The resumption of Sovieteveness abrasive tone than before the talks began, could also be intended to prepare the Soviet domestic audience in case the negotiations do not reach an acceptable conclusion. Reports from Peking indicate that Sovietthere have boon taken aback by the virulence of the recent Chinese polemical assaults, and appear less sanguine than before about for early progress in the discussions.

Kuznetsov reportedly will be making new efforts to move the talks along but there has been no hint that either side is ready to give on matters of principle. AinHungary 's party journal Nepsza-bad probably reflected Moscow's view when it warned against "exaggerated expectations" for the negotiations, but indicated that the talks would be considered useful even if they resulted onlyassation ofincidentsnormalization to some extent" of relationsthe two states. Although the talks do appear to havo contributed to the cessation of border clashes, relations between the two countries have yet to show any significant irn-

10 WEEKLY REVIEW

Jan 70

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