Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-12-18
BY FRANK SARTWELL

Next summer, if all goes well.
the first group of American tour
lists since World War II will enter
Russia. Not officials or delegations:
just plain, camera carrying. SOU
venir-seeking, curious folk such as
flock to Washington or Paris.
Thos. Cook & Son., Inc, travel
merchants, are negotiating now
with Intourist, the Soviet govern
ment's travel agency. The COM
pany expects to be operating tours
into Moscow and Leningrad-un-
less the Russians change their
minds.
What will the tourists find? To
what extent might their visits inn
prove understanding" between the
two countries, or help toward end
ing the cold war?
The man with many of the an
swers is John w. Stanton of 724
Wallace drive. Falls Church. Mr..
Stanton is manager of Cooks
Southern region In this country,
with headquarters in Washington.
This fall, in the fullness of the
Geneva Spirit" he toured Russia
to see what facilities and reception
await his customers.
If you. as a private sightseer. go
to Russia, Mr.. Stanton discovered.
you'll be pretty well-heeled. lonely
(unless with tourist group and
probably apprehensive. You'll be
something Of tourist attraction
yourself. But If you're looking for
women and drink, you'll be dis
appointed. You'll be thoroughly
in the hands of Intourist-which
means the government. Youth find
all qualities of transportation ia
cilities. You'll be able to load up
on culture and history, but not on
souvenirs. And you won't be able
to complain to the people running
the show that you're seeing too
many churches and cathedrals-
a complaint that Cooks is ac-
customed to.
Further, you'll be welcome-if
the policy hasn't changed since last
October. A news item in The Star
yesterday revealed that Russian
born U. S. citizens may be allowed
to visit relatives in Russia in 1856.
Expensive Place
But If you 60, you'll have to be
pretty well of financially. The
Russians have pegged their ruble
at four to the dollar. 1t should be
at least IL to the dollar, Mr.. STAN
ton found. A bottle of beer-"and
foul beer at that"--will cost you
$3.50. A small flask Of vodka will
cost you 50. Dry cleaning your
suit will cost $3.50. Intourist cuts
down somewhat on this phony ex-
change rate by selling books of
tickets, one for each activity of
the day-meals, hotel room, sight
seeing, etc. That costs you $50 a
day. and does not include trans
portation. Cost Of transportation
however, has recently been cut in
half, Mr.. Stanton found. Anything
outside the daily round costs dear.
In an interview with Intourist
officials, at which they expressed a
definite welcome for tourists from
America. especially in groups, Mr..
Stanton twitted them about their
exchange rate, and warned they
might be defeating their purpose:
"All you're going to get over here
is capitalists" he said. II thought
you were trying to do something
for the little guy" He got q good
laugh from the Russians, but the
exchange rate stands.
For the traveller Russia is the
loneliest country in the world. Mr..
Stanton found himself stared at
and photographed by the passersby,
but couldn't get into conversation
with them. They were definitely
afraid" to be seen with him. he
said.
AS you will encounter little APP
parent friendliness among the Rus
slams. you'll find little overt hos
tility. Mr.. Stanton said the only
hard looks he received we're from
Red Chinese. Of which he found
many in Russia. He glared back
at them.
One of Intourist's duties is to
be the travellers best friend. You'll
be put on planes, taken OF them.
met by automobiles ct stations or