IblO)
PflEPARES FOR TEST-BAN TALKS
tho eve of theuly three-power talksuclear test ban, Moscow hasumber of gestures toward the West calculated toavorable atmosphero for the beginning of the talks. This contrasts with the exchange of broadsides with Peipingprior to and oven during tbo early stages of the Sino-Soviet talks.
During his visit to the US Embassy for the Independence Day reception, Mlkoyan praised the policy of peacefuland stressed the need for an end to the Cold War. In marked contrast with last year's treatment. President Kennedy's telegram thanking Khrushchev and Brezhnev foruly congratulatory message was published in full in Izvostla and Pravda. The Soviet pressuly carried an article by P. T.ovietin the Geneva "hot line" talks. The article noted that US and Soviet oxperts had begun work on resolving "complex technical problems" connected with setting up the "hot line" botween "the White Rouse and the Kremlin." Moscow announced onuly that the line would go Into operationeptember.
Khrushchev's primary move to indicate to the West his interest lo the forthcoming talks was bis invitation to Belgian Foreign Minister Spaak to visit the USSR for anof views. uly meeting in Kiev as "marked by an at-mosphore of sincerity and mutual understanding." Moscow TV
promptly carried films showing tho two leaders in frlondly
The substance of their conversation has not yet been reported. The former NATO secretary general, however, ls well known as an advocate of some type ofarsaw Pact : iaggression treaty. Theto Spaak at tbls time reflects considerable Soviet interest in the nonaggression Lssuo, which Khrushchev linkedartial test-ban treaty Iduly speech in East Berlin.
Moscow has evadedwhether Khrushchev's latest proposalartial nuclear test-ban agreement is contingent on Western acceptancearsaw Pact Donaggresslon
treaty. Moscow broadcasts bave widely repeateduly proposals but provide no indication of theonaggression treatyest ban.
Mlkoyan and Deputy Foreign Minister Zorln, responding to Western press queries at the US Embassy receptionuly in Moscow, seemed purposefully vague on tho Soviet position for the three-power test-ban talks. Mlkoyan said that2 July speech "directly" callodartialonaggression treaty. Zorln, however, stated tbat the nonaggression treaty lsonditionest-banthen said lt Is "part of the whole,"
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INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY SUMMARY
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rief conversation with Ambassador Kohler at tho reception, Mlkoyan was generally noncommittal on the details of the test-ban offer. He made the routine complaints over the US rejection of the Soviet offer to permit two or three on-site inspections toan on underground testing, but would not say whether the demandoratorium on such testing had been dropped*
A possible Indication of Moscow's serious Interest in the three-power talks is its refusal to grant visas to US and British newsmen to cover the talks* The Sovietin Washington and London have so far refused to grant such visas on the grounds that thereirm three-power understanding that the talks vould be "secret" and that there would be no press After the US Embassy Informed the Soviet Foreign Ministryuly that the US had no objection to the Is* suance of Soviet visas to USoviet official took note of the statement but gave no indication that the USSR is changing its position.
resence during the Khrushchev-Spaak meeting suggests that he may have been
tapped to represent the USSR at the talks.
Denial of Soviet Testing
Soviet journalist Yuri Zhukov, who Is often used as an unofficial spokesman for the Soviet leadership, has denied US press speculation onrecent Soviet nuclear testing. ReS Embassy officialuly that the rumored explosions wereas announced by tbe Soviet press,"
Zhukov exprossed tbe hope that the US Government now shared the view of "certain Westernhat the risk of an "isolated" one-kilo-ton test ls "nothing" compared to the danger if additional countriesuclear
His remarks suggest that the Soviet leaders wish to prevent such press speculation from having adverseon the test-ban talks.
Following Zhukov*sa few Sovietdenied that the USSRtested, andAEC's comments on tbeof Soviet testing,
ulyIHTELLIGENCE WEEKLY3
Original document.
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