SOVIET MOVES IN GENEVA TALKS

Created: 11/6/1958

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

part i .

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of immediate interest

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The continuation of Soviet testing after tbe opening of the Geneva conference probably reflects Soviet concern that suspension now might beas acceptance of the US-UK one-year test moratorium which, in Moscow's view, would dangerously restrict Soviet freedom of action. The Soviet delegation at Geneva can be expected to stand firm on its proposalermanentban. The Soviet leaders probably hopo they can bring furtber pressure on the Western position by warning that the USSR will halt its tests only after the United States and Britain agree to this proposal.

The decision to continue testing may have resultedast-minute reappraisal of the Western position in tbe light of Secretary Dulles' statement ofctober that the US-UK proposal "involveswo-yearoscow may have judged that

this statement foreshadows greater flexibility in the negotiations than it had earlier believed to be the case.

As late asctober,actions and statements suggested tbat Moscow intended to withhold furtber tests at least during the intitial phase of tho Geneva talks."

Foreign Minister Zprin implied that Moscow would resume test-ting only if the Geneva talks failed to produce agreementermanent and unconditional test cessation.

However, onctober, Moscow shiftedarder line, asserting in an officialthat it would continue testing "as long as theof the United States and Great Britain continue to wreck" The Russians may calculate that this reversionarder line, including further testing, would be tbe most effective way ofWestern movos toward the Soviet position, whichr^gu!slY_gi?barrass Moscow.

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Original document.

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