UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL U THANT SAID TUESDAY (29 JANUARY) THAT PROSPECTS FOR A NUCLEAR TEST BAN TREATY WERE "MUCH HIGHER THAN AT ANY TIME IN MY MEMORY OR THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED NATIONS".

THANT MADE THE REMARK AT A NEWS CONFERENCE AT U-N HEADQUARTERS........HIS FIRST NEWS CONFERENCE SINCE 17 SEPTEMBER.

IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA EXPLODING A NUCLEAR DEVICE THIS YEAR OR NEXT..THANT DECLINED TO COMMENT.HE SAID THE U-N WAS "NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE FACTS." HE ADDED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE "IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO COMMENT IF VIEW OF THE CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS".UNITED STATES, RUSSIA AND GREAT BRITAIN MOVED THEIR MEETINGS ON A TEST BAN TREATY TUESDAY FROM WASHINGTON TO NEW YORK.

IN OTHER REMARKS, THANT ENDORSED AID TO THE CONGO ON A BILATERAL BASIS IF THE LEOPOLDVILLE GOVERNMENT WANTS IT.THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAD PREVIOUSLY CALLED FOR CHANNELLING AID TO THE CONGO THROUGH THE WORLD ORGANIZATION.HE ALSO SAID THE MILITARY PHASE OF THE CONGO OPERATION WAS OVER...AND THAT THE U-N FORCE THERE WOULD BE REDUCED FROM 19-THOUSAND TO BETWEEN 12 AND 13 THOUSAND BY THE END OF MARCH.