WASHINGION (OPI) —
President Nixon and Soviet
Jeader Leonid 1. Brezhnev
pledged today to ‘avoid
Military confrontations and
threats of force that might
lead to nuclear war between
their two nations. ‘

In a policy declaration, the
leaders of the iwo nuclear
superpowers agreed to “im-
mediately enter into urgent
consultations with each
other’? should the risk of a
nuclear conflict arise.

Nixon and Brezhnev signed
 the agreement —the cighth
since the start of their
summit talks —in a ceremony
in the East Room of the White
House a few hours before
their scheduled departure
aboard the presidential
jetliner’ for San Clemente,
Calif, for the conclusion of
‘their week-long conference.

In the agreement,. tne two.
leaders promised that the
United States and the Soviet
Unien “will act in such a
Manner as to prevent the
development of situations
capable of causing a
dangerous exacerbation of
their relations, as to avoid
 military confrontations, and
to exclude the outbreak of
nuclear war between them
and between either of* the
parties and other countries.”

The accord also calls for the
signatories to proceed from
the premise that each will
refrain “from the threat or
use of force against the other
party, against the allies of the
other party, and against other
countries, in circumstances
which may endanger
international peace and
security.”

In advance of the signing,
Nixon briefed congressional
leaders of both parties on the
 declaration, which is a state
ment of policy —not a treaty
-- and therefore does not
require Senate ratification.

Presidential adviser Henry
A. Kissinger said the intent of
the doctrine was “‘to prevent
the outbreak of nuclear war.'*

Kissinger said steps toward
the agreement began at the
end of the Moscow. summit
meeting between Nixon and
Brezhnev in May, 1972.
Kissinger said the accord
“can be a_ significant
landmark in relations
between the two great nuclear
powers."”

Tre. accord, effective im-
 mediately, is of unlimited
duration and both parties said
nothing in it would affect ar
impair the right of individual
or collective - self-defense
under the U.N. Charter or
separate treaty obligations,
such as those the United
States has as a member of
NATO.

Asked how the agreement.
might relate to current
American bombing in
Cambodia, Kissinger said
only that such military
operations were in progress
when the agreement was
negotiated.
 
WASHINGTON ‘UPI) — President
Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid I.
Brezhnev, already planning another sum-

‘mit meeting next vear, formally pledged
today to avoid military confrontations and
threats of force that might trigger nuclear
war

The vows were contained in a policy
declaration which also said the leaders of
the two superpowers would “immediately
enter into urgent consultations with each
other’ if a nuclear conflict threatened.

Shortly before Nixon and Brezhnev
signed the agreement in the East Room of
the White House, Treasury Secretary
George P. Shultz and Soviet Trade
Minister Nikolai S. Patolichev met across
Pennsylvania Avenue in Blair House to
initial another pact intended to
commerce between the United States and
the Soviet Union. About 50 captains of
American industry were present at the
signing.

The two latest accords brought to eight
the number reached since the start of the
summit talks Monday. They were signed a
few hours before Nixon and Brezhnev were
io depart aboard the President's jetliner
 for San Clemente, Calif.. where they
planned to conclude their conferences over
the weekend.

The decision by the two leaders to hold a
third summit meeting in as many years
was announced Thursday night at a lavish
banquet in the Soviet Embassy.

Their promises to meet again in Moscow
next year were accompanied by cham-
pagne toasts. The jovial atmosphere
reflected the signing earlier in the day of
pacts intended to accelerate negotiations
to limit and reduce offensive nuclear
weapons and exchange research on
peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Today's promises to refrain from
military confrontations went into effect
immediately upon signing of the policy
declaration about 12:30 p.m. EDT.

In the agreement, the two leaders
promised that the United States and the
Soviet Union “will act in such a manner as
to prevent the development of situations
capable of causing a dangerous
exacerbation of their relations, as to avoid
military confrontations, and to exclude the
outbreak of nuclear war between them.”
 