London Talks Termed ‘Very Good’ by Soviets

In a markedly upbeat atmosphere, Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze met with British leaders Monday in an effort to improve bilateral relations and the overall East-West climate in preparation for a possible Soviet-U.S. summit later this year.

Shevardnadze emerged smiling after a two-hour meeting with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at her office at 10 Downing Street, and, without elaboration, told reporters the talks were “very good.” A British spokesman described the session as “a clear sign that Anglo-Soviet relations are once again fully operational.”

Thatcher, he said, has accepted an invitation to visit the Soviet Union, but no dates were discussed.

Shevardnadze also handed Thatcher a note from Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev. The British spokesman said Gorbachev’s message dealt with arms control and that Thatcher will respond to it in “due course.” The message was not made public.

“It was a good meeting,” said the spokesman. “It was quite a conversation.”

‘Relaxed’ Meeting with Howe

Earlier, the Soviet foreign minister met for three hours with Thatcher’s foreign secretary, Geoffrey Howe, to discuss a variety of matters. The meeting was described as “relaxed, detailed and constructive.”

Shevardnadze’s visit to Britain is the first by a Soviet foreign minister in more than a decade.

Ten months ago, Anglo-Soviet relations were rocked by the defection of the KGB chief in London, Oleg Gordievski, and a rapid-fire round of subsequent expulsions and counter-expulsions from London and Moscow.

The speedy recovery in relations reflected in Monday’s exchange is seen as an indicator of Moscow’s desire to ease East-West tension in advance of a possible superpower summit. The Soviets were also reportedly hoping to encourage Thatcher to use her influence, as the European leader closest to President Reagan, to moderate U.S. views on key arms control issues.

British officials have actively discouraged speculation that Thatcher wants to play the role of intermediary between Moscow and Washington in preparing for a summit meeting. Howe is expected to go to Washington later this week.

It was a British initiative, aimed at breaking an impasse on Geneva negotiations on a chemical weapons ban, that dominated much of Howe’s meeting Monday with his Soviet counterpart.

A British source who was present during the talks said that Shevardnadze reacted positively to a British proposal to resolve the difficult question of verification. The proposal suggests some alternatives to so-called “challenge” inspections of chemical production facilities.

As in other areas of arms control, verification has been a stumbling block in the chemical weapons talks that began in the 1960s. There has been little movement since Moscow rejected a 1984 U.S proposal that called for on-site inspection at 24 hours’ notice.

The British plan, to be formally presented today at the 40-nation disarmament conference in Geneva, would permit a government to refuse direct inspection in limited circumstances. The government being challenged could, under the British proposal, offer an alternative to full inspection, such as providing access to documents or offering some limited access to the site.

“He (Shevardnadze) expressed constructive interest in this,” a British official who is involved in the talks said.

Two weeks ago, a Soviet specialist in arms control who was visiting Britain expressed optimism about the chances of agreement on a chemical weapons ban at Geneva.

According to sources familiar with the difficulties involved in the chemical weapons talks, even if the verification issue can be resolved, completing negotiations on a treaty will require several months.

Shevardnadze, 58, was a a regional political leader with virtually no experience in international relations when he was appointed foreign minister on July 1, 1985. Because of his inexperience, he has been regarded in the West as an enigma.