Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-14
BY EARL II. VOSS

"LleIl WIS. ohSdlld AdSCllhIIId
leaped out the window of the Soviet
Consulate in New York just seven
years ago last Friday, not a word
of the episode appeared in Soviet
news outlets. Yet. within a few
hours after she jumped, gossip
about Mrs. Kasenkinas daring es-
cape filled Moscow elevators, res
taurants and buses.
The Voice of America had broken
through the Iron Curtain with the
story. Alarmed Moscow officials
intensified their tanning until
today some 1000 transmitters are
being used to shout down the Voice.
In other sections of the Iron
Curtain, however. there is new
look.
More foreigners are getting into
the Soviet Union, More Soviet citi-
zens are travelling abroad. More
news of the outside world is being
carried in the Soviet press and
radio. Red propaganda Is less vio-
lent toward the West.
Experts and amateurs alike are
wondering what the Russians new
look portends. There is still every
reason for the deepest kind Of sus-
picion that this is Just one more
phony peace offensive, perhaps bet
ter staged than the old Stain per-
formances. But no one can really
be sure.
So far the curtain lifting has been
more show than substance. The
pros" in the State Department tend
to be more cynical about it than
President Eisenhower. AS a sort OF
unofficial compromise, the official
Washington attitude is wait and
see" They are waiting for the Oc-
tober foreign ministers meeting to
explore the Soviet attitude further.
How Big q Change?
Here briefly is what they see.
Entries into the Soviet Union.
Whereas only 30 to 40 Americans
visited the Soviet Union last year.
some 100 already have gone this
year. This trickle compares with
an estimated 100000 citizens tthe
passport division doesn't bother to
keep precise statistics on our
comings and goings) who this year
will travel to non-Soviet parts OF
the Eastern Hemisphere. Once
inside the Soviet Union, the
handful of visitors allowed is still
carefully watched. They see only
the show places. Vast areas are still
restricted No impromptu changes
of itinerary are allowed.
Leaving the Soviet Union. More
Soviet scientists and technicians
are visiting Western Europe and
the rest If the world. Kremlin lead
ers themselves have already made
two trips abroad, plan another to
Great Britain, and are limiting after
an invitation from President Eisen-
hover to visit the United States.
Soviet travellers are still carefully
chosen. The emphasis of screening
now seems to be less on loyalty.
however, and more on salesman
ship. The farm delegation now
touring the Midwest. for instance.
is trying hard to show Americans
that Russians are just like other
people" The average, nonofficial
citizen of the Soviet Union, OF
course, has no prospect of travelling
abroad, not only because Moscow
would block him If he tried, but
because he hasn't the money.
Censorship. Voice Of America
officials say the Soviet Union has
not let up even slightly on its costly
jamming, which, incidentally, vio-
lates 1947 Accommodations
convention signed by the USSR
in Atlantic City. The Reds spend
much more it is reported, than
the VOA's SIG million annual
budget to block the Voices broad
casts. Perhaps the Soviet Union
is especially sensitive to the Voice
because it has no control over the
output.
Censorship of outgoing and In
coming press dispatches. where the