Allies weigh East-bloc trade curb

Controls on sales of strategic goods to the East bloc is the topic of highly secret talks opened here Tuesday among technological experts from 15 Atlantic Alliance nations, special Monitor correspondent Edward Girardet writes. Differences between the United States and its allies on the application of economic sanctions against the Soviet Union are expected to dominate the talks.

Diplomatic sources say the delegates at the Coordinating Committee on Export Controls will look closely at the plan to build a natural gas pipeline from Siberia to Western Europe. The US has already refused to supply essential pipeline parts as part of its pressure on the Soviets to ease Polish martial law.

But France, West Germany, and Italy are reluctant to stop construction on the and technological contracts. Americans are concerned that the granting of high Western technological know-how for the gas line's construction will be used for military purposes by the Soviets.