and other weapons of mass destruction can be achieved only through
step by step measures.
What we are first trying to achieve is the reaching of specific
agreements which would stabilize the existing military enviroment or to put it another way - we want to place a lid on the current arms
race, Once progress had been made toward this objective, then it
would be possible to move on to more far-reaching measures of
disarmament which in time would lead to general disarmamente
QUESTION
Mr. President, the Ten-Nation disarmament talks seem to be in
deadlock. General de Gaulle and you seemed to feel that disarmament
would be the number one subject of discussion at the Summit Conference.
Do you believe that your Summit discussions will break this present
deadlock in disarmament negotiations?
ANSWER
I do not believe it is wise to speculate on what the outcome of
our Summit discussions may be, but I wowld say this: it would be the
hope of the Western Heads of Government that useful discussions will be
held on this subject at the Summit. We would further hope that these
discussions in turn might serve to set in a positive direction the
course of the Ten-Nation Conference when it resumes its deliberations.~\.0
after the Summit meeting.
r “
QUESTION
tir. President, will we put before lir. Khrushchev at the Summit
any new disarmament proposals?
REPRODUCED AT THE DWIGHTD. EISENHOWER LIBRARY
ANSVIER,
I do not want to discuss Summit strategy here. However,
whatever the Vestern Powers suggest in this field at the Summit,
will reflect the position which we have already taken at Geneva,
both from the point of view of substance and tactics. I would add
that the Allies believe that our Five Power plan represents the
most practical approach for moving toward the desired goal of
general disarmament, al though we are willing to consider any other
workable proposal. We also believe that agreement on specific
measures 1s the only logical way in which we can make progress
toward general disarmament.
Ce