Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-28
On Meeting Stain

President Eisenhower has taken an admit
rably circumSpect position in his press
conference comment on the possibility of meet
ing personally with Generalissimo Stain. In
effect, although he has been careful to keep
the diplomatic doors open, he has made clear
that there can be no such get-together unless
and until certain basic conditions are met to
insure that it would actually contribute to the
cause of world peace.
The President has spoken out on the
subject in response to reporters question
regarding Stains message last Christmas Eve
to the New York Times-a message in which
the Soviet dictator made these two major
points: Cd That he "favorably" regards the
idea of holding diplomatic conversations to
pave the way for possible conference between
him and General Eisenhower, and (2) that he
agrees to cooperate in any new effort to bring
about Korean truce because the u S. 8. r..
is interested in ending the war in Korea"
When this message was first publicized,
General Eisenhower, who had yet to be in
augurated, gave preliminary answer through
John Foster Dulles, who had yet to become
Secretary of State. The substance of the
answer was that Stain should back up his
fair words with specific evidence of sincerity.
If he did that, if he offered concrete pro-
poSalS" to the new Republican administration
after it took office, then he could "reSt assured"
that they would be seriously and sympa-
thetically received" In any case, he would do
we'll to remember that diplomatic or United
Nations channels of communication are always
available for such purposes and for exchanges
of views designed to find ways to promote peace
and international good will"
Without changing its meaning in any
degree, the President has now enlarged upon
Mr. Dulles December statement by declaring
that he will be willing to 60 to a suitable spot
perhaps halfway between here and Moscow
for the suggested meeting if he ever finds
that such meeting would do good for world
peace; if it would be in keeping with the wishes
and best interests of the American people; it
its proceedings could be carried on with the
full knowledge of the allies of the United
States, and it there were sufficient reason to
believe that it would result in Self-enforcing,
ironclad agreements involving inspection pro-
visions and other guarantees effective enough
to cope with the danger of violations, evasions
and similar acts of bad faith.
These Ifs" of course, are self-explanatory.
What they reflect is the fact that President
Eisenhower, in view of the long and dreary rec
ord of Soviet treaty Violations and in view of the
Kremlins black role in the Korean war, is
highly Skeptical-as he should be-of any and
all proposals suggesting near-future meeting
between him and Generalissimo Stain. The
Russian dictator may occasionally coo like a
dove, but as long as his tyrannical regime
adhereS to its program of aggression and hate
America propaganda, the idea of such meet
ing will remain premature at best.
Besides even if Russian policy were to
undergo a marked change for the better, there
still would be reason to doubt the wisdom Of
holding big Two" American-Soviet confer
ence to deal with the problems Of the world.
decent and enduring international peace-if
we are ever to enjoy one-can hardly be built
on such an exclusive basis. All things consid-
cred, therefore, the Presidents qualifications
and reservations are certainly we'll justified