Offer & Response

Overruling his officials in the Defense Department and the Atomic Energy Commission, President Eisenhower last week ordered a last-chance attempt to reach a first-step disarmament agreement with the Soviet Union. Eisenhower proposed that the U.S. and its allies extend their offer to suspend nuclear tests for ten months to a period of one year, renewable to two years, if the Russians would agree with the West to 1) quit making atomic weapons and 2) cooperate in setting up a foolproof worldwide system of inspection. "I sincerely hope," said the President, sounding what might well be the U.S.'s last word, "that the Soviet Union will now join us in agreeing." Preliminary Russian reaction: "Nyet."

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