Madrid security meeting averts initial controversy

Neutral and nonaligned nations moved swiftly at the European Security Conference to head off a threatened clash between East and West, and a preparatory session opened with no public hint of controversy.

The United States and its NATO allies expect the Soviet Union to press for a timetable to limit discussion on issues such as Afghanistan and human rights when the conference moves into full session Nov. 11. The three-month debate then will range over the fulfillment of 10 basic principles agreed by to leaders of the 35 states at the first Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe at Helsinki in 1975.