Evening star., 1944-01-19
Gilmore
Continued From First Page.)

IN England as we'll as IN Soviet
RuSSia)
Printing of this story put the
steaming question right back where
1t was when Pravda. Communist
party newspaper, printed the origi-
nal Story-it is again the biggest
topic in town. Every Muscovite is
wagging his head and discussing it.
Both the British Foreign Office
denial and the Sunday Times article
from Ankara were printed on the
back, or foreign, page of Pravda
and IZvestia.
Reaction Is Something Is Up"
The first reaction on the reprint
ing of the story from the Sunday
Times Ankara correspondent was,
You see, something is up
Many Russians who may have to
some extent discounted the original
story now are convinced that the
British have been listening-if Moth
ing else-to peace proposals from
Germany.
What troubles me most" said
one Russian, is that part as re-
ported by the Sunday Times cor,
respondent where he said the Ger
mans would reserve the right of
limited freedom of action in the
east. That means u.s."
The Russians have saying SIM
liar to Ours-there is no smoke
where there is no fire. This is being
pointed out today.
Russians Believe Their Newspapers
The average Russian believes
what he reads in his newspapers,
especially what he reads in Pravda
When they read the rumor story
Monday, most Russians first reac-
ton was anger
Typical first comments were,
What an ally!" Aren't they
ashamed?'; What thing to do"
and Il would never have believed
it,"
Three excited Russians came to
my room following publication of
the report.
They didn't ask whether it was
true, but their questions were all
alike. They wanted to know, why
have the British done this?"
I tried to tell them that the head
line over the story used the word
"slukhi," which means rumor.
Yes they answered, but did
you read where the article said that
the meeting was not without result ?
What about that?"
Another one said, "You know our
papers don't print stories like this
without foundation"
Disturbing to Most People.
These were average Russians-not
members OF any profession or deep
political thinkers.
And what does your wife and
mother think?" I asked one.
Well" he said, my mother re-
members the revolution and civil
war and some Of the things that
happened, and, we'll, all kinds of
things can happen"
The article was very disturbing to
all people talked to. They got Just
as excited over the suggestion that
one OF their Allies would sign a sep
arate peace as an American or Brit
isher would over the suggestion that
Russia would sign separate peace.
I talked to other friends about
I'm Which We Serve" the Noel
Coward movie of the British ROYAL
Navy at war, featuring a destroyer
and her crew.
A woman said she thought it was a
beautiful picture and that it was
fine story of an ally one liked to
have.
One friend asked if it were not
from life. When I said I believed it
was about some incident in the
career of Admiral Lord Louis
Mountbatten, this Russian said he
thought so, for the British were
courageous fighters and this picture
rang true.
One should not forget that ru-
mors have been printed abroad in
the past to the effect that the So
Wet Union was being approached
by Germany to sign a separate
peace.