Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-08
Appeal to BuIgonin

~
It is good that President Eisenhower,
in his reply to Premier Bulganin'S June 6
letter, has kept alive the friendly and
hopeful tone that has distinguished this
significant Americans Soviet correspond
ence ever since it's inception many months
ago. True, and with ample reason, he
has frankly described himself as greatly
disturbed" and "perplexed" by some OF
the Kremlin'S actions since last years
Geneva summit" conference. But he has
made clear at the same time that he still
finds the situation promising enough to
indicate that the United States and
Russia should be able-with patience and
sincerity-to work out effective peace
promoting agreements on all the grave
issues that now divide the world.
One of the most important of these
issues of course, revolves around parti-
toned Germany. The President has not
minced words on the matter. With
polite but forceful candor, he has re-
minded Marshal Bulganin that the Krem-
lin, at the Geneva meeting, concurred
with the Western Big Three on the prop
oSition that the German people must be
reunited as an independent nation on
the basis of free elections. Since then,
however, Soviet policy has had all the
earmarkS of being deliberately directed
toward maintaining the present division
indeflnitely-a disheartening fact, that
has led Mr.. Eisenhower to wonder chow
we can work together constructively if
agreements which are negotiated at the
highest level after the most thorough
exploration do not seem dependable.
Similarly, as far as the disarmament
problem is concerned, the President has
been fortnight in suggesting to the
Soviet Premier that the United States
Government is altogether unimpressed by
the Kremlin'S view-which has Just been
re-emphasized by Defense Minister Thu
kov-that the American "open skies"
proposal for reciprocal aerial surveillance
would degenerate into an espionage OPP
Grafton intenSifying mutual suspicion.
Actually, as Mr.. Eisenhower has again
declared, such a policing system
coupled with ground inspection of the
sort that the Russians seem ready to
accept-Would protect both our own
country and the USSR against the danger
of sudden massive attack, and it certainly
should be attainable "if neither of us has
anything hostile to hide" But unfortu-
nately, since they resist the idea, Moscow'S
collective leaders" create the fear
breeding impression that they are intent
upon keeping cover on sinister activities.
Other telling points, both direct and
indirect, are contained in the Presidents
letter. One of these has to do with the
fact that the Kremlin has never re-
Sponded to his March l proposal for an
agreement under which the production
of all fashionable materials would be ear
marked exclusively for peaceful purposes.
Moreover, in his broader commentary on
MoScow's post Geneva policy, Mr. EiSen-
hover has done we'll in earnestly appeal
ing for "a new spirit" that would eradi-
cate the evils of StaliniSm not only with
in Russia but in the world outside, where
they still constitute grievous obstacle"
to international confidence and under
standing. In effect, he has thus pinned
his hopes for the future on such change.
Given it, American-Soviet relations would
become progressively better and mankind
at large could look forward to genuinely
trustworthy peace.