Evening star., 1943-10-05
Spokesman for Russia

The emphasis which the new Soviet
Ambassador, Andrei A. Gromyko, has
placed on RuSSia's desire for good
relations with the United States, both
now and after the war, will make a
most favorable impression in this
country
Ambassador Gromyko, successor to
Maxim Litvinoff, took up the question
of American-Soviet relations in pre-
Senting his credentials at the White
House. And at that time he received
President Roosevelt's reply, which
was no less cordial in tone.
Mr.. Gromyko stressed one point
which is worthy of particular notice.
After stating that the people of the
Soviet Union entertain for the Amer
lean people feelings of friendship and
deep respect, and that the mainte-
nance and further development of
friendly relations and closest collab-
oratlon with them constitute the
answering desire of the Soviet gov
eminent the Ambassador added The
friendship of the peoples of our coun-
tries is not accidental 1t is the ex-
preston Of the basic interests of our
peoples and our nations"
This is placing emphasis where
emphasis belongs 1t is perfectly
true, although not too well under
stood, that the United States and
Russia have a great deal in common.
Both nations, for instance, have a
deep interest in maintaining peace.
Neither Russia nor the United States
has occasion to wage aggressive wars
Both countries require a peaceful
world in which to develop their re-
sources and improve the lot of their
people. Between them there is no
history Of economic rivalry to becloud
the future. Only in the political field
has a basis been laid for suspicion,
and even in this direction the trend
has been toward a better understand
ing both in Washington and in
Moscow. 1t may be doubted that any
two major nations have more of the
important things in common and
fewer bases for conflict. If they fail
TO get along in the years to come,
that failure will grow out of the i'm
perfectionS of human management
and it will be the great tragedy of
our time.
Ambassador GrOmykO is also to be
congratulated for his frank acknoWl-
edgment Of the aid which Russia has
received from the United States and
his expression of appreciation, on
behalf Of his people, for that aid.
This may seem like a small thing,
One might think that the important
consideration is to deliver the war
materials and the food to Russia:
that 1t matters little whether Russia
makes public acknowledgment of this
assistance, or appreciates it. But so
long as human nature remains what
it is, this will not be the case. The
American people know that SubStan-
tai material assistance is being sent
TO Russia. and that this involves some
deprlvatlonS in this country. Being
human, there is tendency to irrita-,
tlon when this aid is deprecated or
taken as a matter of course. and il
Is IN the encouragement of this mood
1hat agents Of the enemy see their
opportunity to drive a wedge between
the two countries. Both peoples must
guard against these calculated rumors
which thrive best in an atmosphere
that is tinged with suspicion. The
people of this country, as we'll as the
people Of Russia, need to be told the
truth on every possible occasion, and
II is IN this respect that MI. Gromvko
has made a most auspicious begin
nlng in his new post.