Kennedy Meets Soviet Envoy

Press, Volume C, Issue 29515, 17 May 1961, Page 15

Kennedy Meets Soviet Envoy

(ft Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, May 16.

President Kennedy will fly to Canada for a two-day visit today after top-level talks on Soviet policy and the Far East crisis resulting from the military coup in South Korea. The President, who is making his first visit abroad since his inauguration, earlier had a meeting with the Soviet Ambassador to Washington (Mr Menshikov) for a conference which renewed speculation about a possible meeting between Mr Kennedy and the Soviet Prime Minister (Mr Khrushchev).

At the same time. Mr Kennedy was kept in close touch with developments in Asia, where the apparent overthrow of the South | Korean Government added to the anxiety felt in Washington over the general instability in South-east Asia and the Far East. Mr Menshikov requested the appointment at the White House and was believed to have a message for the President from Mr Khrushchev. The President was reported to have the question of an early meeting with Mr Khrushchev under consideration. But the consensus appeared to be that it was too early to talk about definite plans. Even if a decision had been reached on a possible meeting with Mr Khrushchev, Mr Kennedy would not announce it because such an announcement would “dim the lustre" of his Ottawa visit. United Press International said. The military coup in South Korea overshadowed

Soviet - American relations today and, as the President prepared to leave for Ottawa, the attention of United States officials was riveted on the Far East. The reported overthrow of the Seoul Government was viewed with increasing concern. partly because of the confused situation and the absence of concrete information to indicate the precise aims of the new military junta. The future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, relations with Cuba and Western Hemisphere affairs were other likely subjects for discussion before Mr

Kennedy’s return to Washington on Thursday. The President, in his talk and in an address to a joint session of Parliament, may deal also with rising apprehension felt by Canadians over the treatment extended them by the United States. Many Canadians believe that their country has been so reliant on American capital and trade that it is in the process of becoming a type of “satellite” of the United States. Officials assumed that China, recognised by Canada but not by the United States, would be discussed by the two leaders, as well as moves for West European economic and political integration. The United States supports the goals of the six-nation Common Market in Western Europe and would be happy if Britain decided to associate itself with it. Mr Diefenbaker in his talks with the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) in Ottawa last month expressed fears that British particination in the Common Market might end the Commonwealth’s imperial preference system and damage Canadian exports