Foreign Ministers of Big Three Score Soviet Plans for Germany; Nuclear Weapons Talks Continue

GENEVA, May 19--The West accused the Soviet Union today of trying to impose on Germany a peace treaty on the harsh lines of the World War I settlement at Versailles. French Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville said it would "drive the German people to despair."

Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko countered with a proposal in the Big Four conference that the United States, Britain, and France drop their drive to reunite Germany and accept a Soviet blueprint for a peace treaty with each of the German states, East and West.

Couve de Murville and British Foreign Secretary Selwyn Lloyd led the Western attack against the Soviet project.

Nuclear Test Proposal Refused

GENEVA, May 19--The Soviet Union today dashed Western hopes for a quick break-through toward Big Three agreement on a suspension of nuclear weapons tests.

Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko refused to commit his government to a proposal of the United States and Britain for a broad scientific study of the technical problems involved in any suspension.

Committee Approves Strauss

WASHINGTON, May 19--The nomination of Lewis L. Strauss to be Secretary of Commerce squeaked through the Senate Commerce Committee today on a 9-8 vote. WASHINGTON, May 19--Secretary of Defense Neil H. McElroy today suspended his plans to resign and said he may not leave the Eisenhower Cabinet.

His decision put a damper on speculation that Thomas S. Gates, Jr., whom President Eisenhower nominated Monday as deputy secretary, had been persuaded to stay in government service so he could step into McElroy's shoes.

Hoffa Threatens Strike

BROWNSVILLE, Tex., May 19--James Hoffa today threatened a nationwide strike of all labor if Congress harnesses unions with antitrust laws.

"They talk about a secondary boycott," the short, husky Teamsters president said in scorn.

"We can call a primary strike all across the nation that will straighten out the employers for once and for all.