U.S. SOVIET RELATIONS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 13

U.S. SOVIET RELATIONS

Russian Envoy’s Speech (Rec. 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 7. The Washington “Post” said today that Americans would be very foolish to conclude from the sweet tune played by the Soviet Ambassador to the United States, Mr Mikhail Menshikov, in his speech yesterday, “that all problems have been reduced to chamber music.” ’ In a speech before the National Press Club, Mr Menshikov’ talked for 45 minutes of “sincerity,” “trust,” “friendship,” “confidence,” “co-operation,” and “peace” between the Soviet Union and the United States.

He said that the achievement of this state of affairs would be a colossal task, but the “normalisation of relaitons” would be greatly aided by regular contacts between the two peoples, by a treaty of friendship and by a summit conference.

The “Post” said in a leading article: “It is perhaps uncharitable, but nonetheless important to remind Mr Menshikov that Soviet propaganda is constantly reviling American motives everywhere and Mr Khrushchev frequently promises to bury the adherents of capitalism, that the existence of a Soviet threat was demonstrated pretty graphically in Persia, Berlin, Korea and elsewhere and that the acknowledgement that Americans fought against a common enemy in World War II would be news to those who depended on Soviet history. “Mr Menshikov deserves one ot those medals for a good try. The two countries are going to have to find practical means of cooperation. “But Americans would be very foolish to conclude from such a sweet tune that all problems have been reduced to chamber music.” None of the New York morning newspapers commented editorially, but the “New York Times” added to its report of Mr Menshikov’s speech: “Observers here (in Washington) noted, however, that samplings from Moscow broadcasts in the last few days indicated that the Soviet Union had not been talking the language of Mr Menshikov. ...

“Broadcasts to South Asia have accused the United States of fomenting rebellion in Indonesia. Broadcasts to France implied that the United States sought to supplant France in North Africa to obtain North African oil. Broadcasts to North Africa said that ‘everywhere in Algeria one can find American armoured cars and American guns.’ ”