London- “The Frozen Mitt”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29002, 17 September 1959, Page 15

London- “The Frozen Mitt”

(Rec. 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, September 16. British newspapers today said that Washington gave the Soviet Prime Minister, Mr Nikita Khrushchev, the “frozen mitt” and the “deep-freeze treatment.”

Headlines and reports emphasised the silence of the crowd which greeted the Soviet leader on his arrival yesterday for talks with President Eisenhower. The “Daily Sketch,” whose headline, “The Frozen Mitt,” filled almost all the front page, said that the crowd “raised hardly a cheer. They did not smile. They just looked in silence.” The “Daily Mirror” began its front-page account by saying “America gave the deep-freeze treatment to Mr Khrushchev.

The “Daily Mirror” report from Washington says it was 80 in the shade—“but the atmosphere was near zero ”

The "Daily Mail” summed up the Soviet leader's reception with the words, “Silence, Unsmiling,” splashed across eight columns of the front page. Its columnist, Don Iddon, described it as the “strangest welcome this city—or any other city —has ever extended to a world figure." The story in the “Daily Herald” said that Mr Khrushchev went “straight into a display of Chaplin-class clowning, but it did not make his welcome any warmer.”

The "News Chronicle” said: “It was a strangely contradictory atmosphere ten brass bands blaring the most infectious music, marching soldiers and sailors in blue scarves and white spats, the sun glinting on all the brass and braid—and utter silence from the people.” Describing Mr Khrushchev’s smiles, bows and nods to the crowd, Rene Mac Cool reported in the “Daily Express’’: “It was as though he was pleading with them to show some response, to answer back, to show some sympathy.” It was evident, said Mac Cool. that “it was only curiosity which had brought out the unexpectedly big crowds " The “Daily Express” writer also commented that he had never seen President Eisenhower so stiff and unforthcoming in all the years he had reported him.