'Propaganda Triumph For Mr K'

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29200, 10 May 1960, Page 15

'Propaganda Triumph For Mr K'

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, May 9. Latest developments in the case of the United States spying plane and Russia have deeply upset British opinion. This was reflected by this morning’s British newspapers, which generally felt that there were some flaws in the conduct of affairs by the United States authorities. Some newspapers called for stern measures to deal with this.

A firm undercurrent of opinion was that Russia had scored a clear-cut and considerable propaganda victory over the United States.

Reports of the developments were given on front pages under huge headlines. The “Daily Mail” published a cartoon depicting a nervous and boyish President Eisenhower standing in front of a choppeddown tree and saying to a for-midable-looking Mr Khrushchev: “Father. I cannot tell a lie.” “The Times” said that the most disturbing feature of the incident was how the Americans came to authorise a flight of this kind over Russia on the eve of the summit meeting. “The Americans, in the humiliating position ot having to admit publicly to spying on the Russians from the air, have handed Mr Khrushchev his propaganda triumph on a plate.” the newspaper said.

“Russians Do Share” “That this particular piece of spying was foolish in the extreme should not be allowed to obscure the fact that the Russians do their full share of spying too.” said “The Times.” “The Russians have a murky record for subversion of foreign scientists and the use of overseas embassies as a front for espionage. They also make much use of merchant ships and warships for intelligence activities. “The only difference is that so tar the Russians have not been caught red-handed so spectacularly as the pilot of the U2. “There ought now to be a stringent tightening-up in the control and co-ordination of the Central Intelligence Agency’s activities. “The best remedy of all would be President Eisenhower’s

own open skies proposal to guard against the dangers of surprise attack. “Pearl Harbour Complex” “It may seem naive for the State Department to justify American intelligence missions as the product of Russia’s ‘excessive secrecy,’ but it is doubtful whether the Russians understand how strong the Pearl Harbour complex is in America, and how real the fear of a surprise attack.

“By opening the territories of each side to aerial inspection by the other, the open skies proposal would in effect legalise spying. “The way to get rid of spies is to make them unnecessary, and if Mr Khrushchev is alarmed as well as outraged by the U2 episode, he could help to achieve this.” “The Times” said.

The “Guardian” urged President Eisenhower to dissociate himself from the flight of Captain Powers as firmly as he could. “Mr Khrushchev will go to the summit in the guise of the injured party, and he may well find himself backed by the sympathies of the world’s floating vote.” the “Guardian” said.

“That is bad enough. What is worse, is that the official statement on the whole affair which the State Department issued over the week-end gives the impression that the Administration’s left hand has not known what its right hand was doing.

“American opinion is deeply divided about President Eisenhower’s desire to reach a settlement with the Soviet Union. Most people probably support it. but there is a minority of diehards who look back sadly to the good old days of John Foster Dulles.” it said

“It is imperative, for the sake of the standing of the United States in the uncommitted world, that the President should make it clear that he has not changed his policy.” The “News Chronicle” said: “The Americans have made fools of themselves.” The newspaper added that although individually perilous, these flights were clearly accepted by both sides as part of the cold war routine.

“It is precisely because the last few weeks before the summit are not routine that the Americans' conduct is so crass,” the "News Chronicle” said.

The “Daily Telegraph” said Mr Khrushchev had been able to “roast” Americans round the world, bringing as much chagrin to their friends as to themselves. "Oh, The Folly Of It!” The “Daily Express” claimed that United States generals had presented Russia with a diplomatic triumph and that the action had certainly strengthened Mr Khrushchev’s bargaining position.

The “Daily Express” added: “Oh, the folly of it!”

In an editorial headlined “Sack The Meddlers,” the “Daily Mirror” said: “President Eisenhower must deal sternly with the idiots who were responsible for sending an American spy-plane over the Middle of Russia: This flight would have been foolhardy and irresponsible at any time. Two weeks before summit talks with Russia were due to start, it was sheer insanity."

The “Daily Mail” said: “If the Americans had been clever, they would have suspended the flights over ‘enemy’ territory in these pre-summit weeks. “We do not think that this episode will interfere with the conference. If it does, the statesmen will fall beneath the level of their trust. Mr Khrushchev most of all.” The “Scotsman” said: “A Government must be held responsible for whatever its subordinates do in the way of duty. Mr Khrushchev seems ready to exculpate Mr Eisenhower, and everyone must perforce hope he will. But what could be more humiliating?"

The “Daily Worker” (Communist) said: “It is especially serious for Britain if the Washington militarists are in control. For our country is the advanced United States rocket-launching site. Some lunatic in the Pentagon, without even telling the President, can apparently take decisions which could plunge Britain into war.” Comment In Europe

The Paris news.) ape r. “L’Aurore,” listed what it termed the “three miracles":

That the pilot parachuted safely from a height of about seven to 10 miles and from an aircraft destroyed by a groundair rocket. That he had time to take with him a syringe, a revolver and bags containing currency and rings. j

That. in spite of the speed of the rocket, he had time to disconnect photographic apparatus.

“Le Figaro” said the real blunder was America's tone of admission. “Instead of being frank, complete and strongly put forward, as it should have been, it takes on an embarrassed look.” The Oslo newspaper “Aftenposten” said: “There is no surprise that a country tries to get information of the military activity of another country. Things like this happen all the time. But this case is of a special dangerous character and might have far-reaching consequences. “If the Americans have made an error, the world still does not want the revelation of a scandal in Paris. It wants to see political results which lead to a relaxation of tension. Australian Criticism Australian newspaper editorials, in comments today on the shooting down of the American plane over Russia, were headed: “Prize U.S. Gaffe,” ‘‘Blunder In The Air” and “Handing Mr Khrushchev A Propaganda Triumph.” The Sydney “Daily Telegraph” said: “What an appalling gaffe for him (Mr Eisenhower) to carry on his shoulders to this vita] meeting.” It added: “Every nation carries out espionage: it is one of the unpleasant but essential activities we must endure in a divided and suspicious world. But to send a plane over Russian soil at this time reveals a diplomatic ineptitude amounting to blundering stupidity.” The “Melbourne Herald” said: “The adventure that turned into a grave blunder makes the President’s task at the summit meeting more difficult. “The alertness of Russia’s air defence gets a world-wide advertisement and so does the failure on the Western side to co-ordin-ate military intelligence with the more vital policies of statesmanship.” The “Sydney Morning Herald” said: “Washington must take a closer look at the Central Intelligence Agency." It said the agency and the State Department cannot be allowed to appear as if they are operating two separate policies. “Peace is too precious to be left at the mercy of a stupid intelligence officer,” it said.