Evening star., 1950-10-17
Moscow's Methods
In Seeking U.S.. Talks
Are Called Puzz|inq
Russian Approaches
Bypass Normal
Diplomatic Channels
By David Laurence

DyP0SS tNVtIu0t
Diplomatic Channels
By David Laurence
From time to time the Moscow
government indicates a desire to
carry on peace" conversations
with the American Government
Sometimes the hint is thrown out
in the United Nations, and some
times it is conveyed in private to
persons prominent in this country
The puzzle is that, with an
American ambassador in Moscow
all the time and with Russian
ambassador in Washington, there
should be any question about
means of transmitting the desires
Of the Kremlin.
Some of the approaches are in
formal and may be no more than
gestures to indicate a peaceful
turn in Moscow policy. One of
these which occurred a few weeks
ago on the night of the dinner
given by Trygve Lie in New York
concerned Bernard M. Baruch,
who, as reported at that time, was
seen conversing at the head table
with Jakob Malik, the Russian
U. N. delegate.
Mr.. Baruch refused to reveal
what was said either by Mr.. Malik
or himself. Since then another
prominent American - Harold
Stassen-has issued a statement
declaring his desire to visit Rus
sia. 1t is quite probable that Mr..
Stassen will be given an oppor-
tunity to enter Russia and travel
therein, but whether he will see
the head of the government is
not so certain.
The Russians were especially
anxious to have Mr.. Baruch come
to Russia because they were in
terested in his ideas on the de-
velopment of atomic energy for
peaceful uses. As far back as
1919, Lenin sought Mr.. Baruch's
advice on industrial development.
The request was revived IN later
years. Mr.. Baruch told friends
he could never see eye to eye with
the Russians on the basic prin-
ciples or fundamental approach
and nothing ever came OF these
invitations.
Asked About Visiting Russia.
A few weeks ago, when Mr..
Malik inquired of Mr.. Baruch why
he didn't visit the Soviet Union
on his trips abroad in 1948 and
1949, the later is reported to have
replied that he didn't think the
Russians wanted him. Mr.. Malik
countered with the suggestion that
he ought to go now. But Mr..
Baruch made it clear that there
were two reasons why he couldn't
do it-frst, because he was "per-
soma non grata" with the Tru-
man Administration, which Mr..
Malik didn't take seriously, and,
second, because the President Is
the only accredited and constitu-
tional agent of the American Gov
ernment and hence the only one
who could make policy.
officials here concur in that
point of view and, in fact, have
not liked the idea of any personal
emissaries visiting Russia who
could be regarded as speaking for
the government, either directly or
indirectly.
One of the chief stumbling
blocks. of course, to any negotia-
tions at present is that the
United States Government doesn't
want to enter into any discus
sions with Moscow separately.
The feeling is that Great Britain
and France are equally con-
cerned with any overall settle
ment in Europe or Asia and that
any talks should be initiated with
representatives of all the major
powers present.
Russian Viewpoint.
The Russian viewpoint is that
there should be a resumption OF
some talks but with it goes the
suggestion that it should be a
substitute for action to be taken
soon to reorganize the U. N. Gen.
eral Assembly procedures on col
lective security.
It Is easy to overestimate the
Importance Of informal converse
tions in the corridors of U. N
meetings. Everything that Rus
sian representative says is likely
to be looked on as a carefully
worked out program by the
Kremlin itself, no matter how
casual the conversation may ap-
pear to be.
For all practical purposes, II
may be taken for granted that
Il Russian policy does change in
any important fundamental, IL
will be reflected not in approaches
to prominent Americans or in
speech-making at the U. N. but
in the private conferences which
diplomats have from time to time
with high officials of the Moscow
foreign Office.
There are plenty of ways to
talk--if there is anything impor-
tant to be said. There are plenty
Of things that can lead to an
agreemens-if any important ac-
ton is taken that indicates such
desire. Opportunities to collab-
crate betweeo the East and West
arise every day.
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