Soviets Urge Peace Treaty

The Soviet Union opened a 35-nation conference on reducing the risk of war in Europe by proposing a treaty committing East and West not to be the first to use military force, either nuclear or conventional. Soviet delegate Oleg A. Grinevsky told the Stockholm conference that while the treaty would oblige North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Warsaw Pact nations not to be the first to use force, and to consult at any risk of war, it would not limit the “inalienable right” of defense. Western delegates reacted coolly to the idea, saying Moscow had made similar proposals before. The United States and Canada and all European nations except Albania are attending the conference.