Evening star., 1950-09-27
Does 1t Mean Anything?

Now the Russians have given the world some
thing else to guess about. In a typically enig-
matte and elaborately roundabout fashion, they
have revealed that Jacob A. Malik-their chief
delegate to the United Nations-has met with a
Baltimore group representing an organization
called "the Maryland Committee for Peace"
Mr. Malik himself has been mum on the subject,
but spokesman for him-which means spokes-
man for the Kremlin-has explained that the
meeting revolved around four questions and four
answers.
The questions, as ascribed to the Baltimore
ans, were in substance as follows: Cd Will the
Soviet government pledge that it will not be the
first to use the atomic bomb? (2) Does Mr.. Malik
favor disarmament and the outlawing of Aweap-
ons under strict system of United Nations In
spection and control? CD Does he favor meeting
of the top leaders of Russia and the United
States to negotiate. their differences and thus
help achieve a real peace? And (4) does he favor
the free interchange of ideas and information
between the peoples of our two countries? To all
of which, according to Mr.. Malik's spokesman,
Mr.. Malik gave these succinct answers: CD Yes
(2) Yes. 81 Yes. And a. yes.
Since the Kremlins representatives are adept
at turning the meaning of words upside down, a
good case can be made for the idea that this little
exchange adds up to nothing but another dust
example, have asserted repeatedly that they are
in favor of strict atomic control, but just as
repeatedly they have torpedoed every effort by
the overwhelming majority of the u. N. to estab-
lsh such control. Similarly, they have paid lip
service without end to the principle of freely ex-
changing ideas and information, but their Iron
Curtain has steadily become more and more iron.
Accordingly as long as their language thus con-
unues to be entirely different from their Deeds
there would seem to be no reason whatever for
the rest Of the world to prick up its ears at their
latest remarks-through Mr.. Malik-about things
like the A-bomb and top-level Sovet-Amercan
meeting.
Yet, in view of the deliberate way in which
the Russians have gone about publicizing the
question-and-answ period between Mr. Malik
and the BaltimoreanS, the whole business may
have some significance. In any case, pains
taking and almost ostentatious form of indirec-
tion has been used to suggest that the Stain
government wishes to do something about the
present world situation. Could it be that the
men Of the Krenlin want to get out from under
the consequences Of the North Korean aggres-
sion? Is 1t conceivable that they are alarmed by
the defense efforts Of the West? Are they plan
ming some kind Of phony peace offensive? Or is it
possible-just remotely possble-that they are
contemplating basic policy change in good
faith?
Events themselves will have to supply the
answers. Meanwhile, it is interesting to recall
that similar form of indirection was used by
the Kremlin prior to the discussions with Mr.
Malik) that brought an end to the Soviet block
ade Of Berlin. It is interesting too to note that
this latest development fits in neatly with the
new tone of moderation that the Russians have
been striking in the U. N. ever since Foreign
Minister Vishinsky's arrival in New York But
whatever they may have in mind, the non-Soviet
world even if it likes to hope for the best, had
better keep on preparing for the worst.