Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-18
Dominant Weapons System
Tourist Agents Preparing
For Sc Season in Russia

alrpOrtS, WnlSkeQ through Icu IaPe,
put in the front of the line at
Lenin's land Stalin'sl tomb. and
generally looked after. Your cou-
pons entitle you to hours Of sight
seeing. with guide, each morning
and afternoon. Mr.. Stanton found
that when his paid-for time was
UP, ne could roam about on his
own.
Intourist will also see that you
get a chance at the ballet and the
opera. snd at the newly opened
Kremlin Museums. which Mr.. STAN
ton found the equal, or almost
the equal. Of the Vatican Museum,
often called the best in Europe. The
Kremlin Museum contains relics OF
the Cars. such as the crown jewels,
the court robes, arsenals, gifts from
foreign ambassadors. etc. There
are also many other museums in
the country. the chief purpose Of
which seems to be to sell the people
on Lenin, and the revolution.
With their eye on the propaganda
chance. the Intourist guides will
try to show you collective farm
after collective farm. factory after
factory. a succession of Fairgrounds
and athletic stadia. Mr.. Stanton
saw one of each, then called halt.
To see churches he had to make
special request.
The Russians will miss the OPP
portunity to sell you souvenirs
they have nothing in that line
unless a seed Mr.. Stanton planted
takes root. He told the Intourist
officials they should set up shops in
their hotels to sell native dolls in
costume, traditional garments and
the like. If you try to buy a fur
hat, standard equipment of the car-
toon Russian, you'll run into the
exchange rate again. Mr.. Stanton
found it would cost him SIS for a
number that was only fur trimmed,
and up to 500 for the real thing.
He finally brought home only one
Souvenir couple Of cans of caviar.
Other likely items turned out too
expensive, and often of poor quality.
Comero Is OK
During the first few days of his
tour. Mr.. Stanton admits, he found
himself looking over his shoulder
for menacing MVD man. He
never found one that he could
identify as such. You should have
no trouble, even carrying a movie
camera with telephoto lens. If Mr..
Stanton's experience is true guide.
He had been warned not to photo
graph military or port installations.
or railroad facilities. He didn't.
Several times on airplane trips
within Russia your camera will be
taken away, to be returned when
the fight is over. You should have
no difficulty taking your Aim out Of
the country-again If all things are
as they were then. Mr.. Stanton's
baggage was never inspected any
where in Russia. The only exami-
- nation it underwent was at Idlewild
Airport on his return to the United
States.
To the travel agents eye, Mos
COW appears able to handle some
$4,000 American tourists. in addi-
ton to those from other countries,
in a six-month season" More pro-
vincial towns. of course, could not
match those facilities, although
more hotels are being built.
II there was such an influx Of
Americans, what might be the re-
suit in terms of the much-praised
mutual understandings"
Mr.. Stanton feels strongly that
1t would be the biggest. best thing
that could happen in bringing the
two countries together" More con-
tact between the two peoples, he
declared, equals less chance Of war.
1t might also serve to dispel some
comforting American notions. such
as that the Russian people might
revolt against the Communist gov
eminent.
When he arrived in Moscow and
was taken to his hotel room. he re-
ports. the guide pulled back a win
dow curtain. The Kremlin was
spread out before him. And there
stood q line Of people a mile long.
waiting to enter the tomb of Lenin
and Stalin-in a driving rain. The
line never materially lessened dur
ing his five-day stay in the capital.
He Ia convinced the people were
there voluntarily.