U.S.-Soviet Relations Good In New York

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28936, 2 July 1959, Page 11

U.S.-Soviet Relations Good In New York

[Specially written toi the rt.ZJ’.A bu FRANK OLIVER)

NEW YORK, June 30.

Apart from a little talk about baseball and a little more about the heat all conversation in New York seems to be about Russia and any Martian visitor reading New York’s newspapers this morning could be forgiven for thinking that the United States and Russia were the best of friends and' the oldest of allies. There on the front pages is the happiest looking man alive. First Deputy Prime Minister Frol Koslov with a widely-smiling President Eisenhower. Last night millions saw on television the President and the First Deputy Prime Minister meet, grin happily, shake hands vigorously and then view the exhibits of the Soviet fair like a couple of war-time friends who had met after a long separation.

Inside today’s news t _pers, not columns, but pages are devoted to every phase of the exhibition and every detail of the EisenhowerKoslov meeting. Beyond that there is a press fanfare about the arrival tomorrow of the “kinopanorama” film “Great Is My Country,” which is advertised as having nine-track stereophonic sound, whatever that may be.

Nor is that all, for there is much advertising of Russian music and a dance festival that will occupy Madison Square Garden from July 7 to 18. Out at Idlewild Airport is the great jet-prop aeroplane in which the Russian officials arrived, bigger, more powerful and seating many more people than the biggest American jet aircraft. Last night’s fair festivities at the great new Coliseum at the south-west comer of Central Park was In the nature of an official opening, but from 11 o’clock this

morning New Yorkers have Peen flooding the building, anxious to pay their dollar to see what there is in the “Soviet Exhibition of Science, Technology and Culture” and there is plenty for them to see.

There is little doubt they will all go home impressed by what the Soviets can do, even though they may not be doing all of it on a very wide scale just now.

A “New York Times” correspondent who spent two years in Russia says he saw more at the Coliseum in two hours than he saw in two years inside Russia and that many a Russian would agree with one who said he would like to come to the fair to find out how he lives. This writer says the Russian boast that a dollar tour of their exhibition is as good as a trip to the Soviet Union is the most modest claim at the show.

If the Soviet aim was to impress Americans they clearly are going to succeed overwhelmingly, far there is much to see and a great deal to marvel at. Those most impressed are those who recall what a backward undeveloped bleak and povertystricken country Russia w'as a mere 30 years ago. This correspondent has not seen Russia for 22 years and this exhibition is still unbelievable. It seems an eminently safe bet to say that no country starting from virtual scratch has ever achieved such giant strides in such a shorttime—in about a single generation It is breathtaking, especially when one remembers that in that generation they fought a desperate all-out war that brought them within inches of defeat.

In this atmosphere of ’riendliness on both Russian and American sides and the excitement of milling crowds it is hard to realise that this exhibition is by one of the principals in the bitterest political warfare the world has ever seen.

Yesterday Mr Koslov earnestly assured a group of businessmen that his prime object in coming was to seek greater Soviet-Ameri-can trade. He was heard very respectfully. Not many years ago when Senator McCarthy was exercising his satanic influence a man like Mr Koslov could not have come here and would not have been listened to if he had. The chances seem to be that he may well open the door to greater trade across the Iron Curtain

But, in spite of all the smiles and hand-shaking and friendliness on the surface, American officialdom has its reservations, as doubtless has Mr Koslov. This afternoon the exuberant Russian has left for Washington and there he will see Mr Herter and the President in quiet seclusion Washington has been hoping that Mr Koslov has with him the authority and the willingness to make concessions at least equal to those made by the West at Geneva to pave the way to a summit conference. It is felt here that the West has paved its half of the way to that much-desired meeting and it would be nice to see the Soviets lay a little macadam on their half of the road.

The fear is, however, that, with the broad smile and cheerful manner he has exhibited in New York. Mr Koslov will try to persuade the Administration to promise to go to the summit conference in any circumstances. The Administration hopes to know a bit more about where the Russians stand and what they are likely to do once Mr Koslov has been heard From that point Vice-President Nixon can be briefed for his July visit to the United States fair in Moscow and talks with Mr Khrushchev

There is a faint hope here that all the friendliness at the New York fair, its obvious success and the equally happy occasions anticipated when the Vice-Presi-dent opens the Moscow exhibition will, if they do not bear fruit at least cause a tiny shoot to appear on the tree.