Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-11
Our Own JuiIer?

The Marshal Zhukov incident poses
a rather nice question as to whether we
have become the prisoner of our own
policies. Perhaps better way to state
1t would be whether our obligations to
the Western alliance are depriving us
of freedom of action at a time when
more rather than less freedom may
be necessary If the deadlock with the
Russians is to be broken.
When the President was asked last
July whether he thought meeting
between Defense Secretary Wilson and
Marshal Zhukov might be useful, he
replied that ut might" His only reser-
walton then was that 1t is bad thing
to raise great hopes that are not real
lied, but he added this; "All the risks
you take in advancing or trying to
advance Tin settlement with Russia)
are nothing as compared with doing
nothing"
In Moscow, this quite understand
ably was taken as hint that we would
welcome visit from the Marshal. Ac-
cordingly, diplomatic feelers were put
out through the proper channels. but
when they reached the State Depart
ment the cold water was turned on The
upShot was that no invitation was sent,
Marshal Zhukov stayed home, and the
incident was huShed up until Mr.. Khru-
Shchev disclosed 1t the other day in his
interview with James Reston of the
New York Times.
Tho Cfata nonartv,ark v,ooo,,.r. AZ.
Dulles, opposed the invitation on the
ground that delicate disarmament ne
gotiations were under way in London
at the time. and that we should not
plant in the minds of our allies any
suspicion that we might be ready to deal
on bilateral basis with the Russians
through Marshal Zhukov. There is force
to this argument. For the Western CO.
alition would fall apart If our allies
got the idea that We were dealing behind
their backs with Russia. This is one
Of the weaknesses Of a coalition among
nations, and 1t is entirely possible that
the Russians, hoping to destroy the
Western alliance. seized upon the Pres
ident'S apparent hint for precisely that
purpose.
1t is also possible, however, and we
say this in the face of all the recent
diScouragementS, that this is not the
case. 1t is fact. like 1t or not, that the
United States and Russia are the two
great powers in today'S world. And It
is possible that the Russians really be-
lieve that direct negotiations between
M0cPnW
an understanding or settlement which
will not be reached through multina-
tional negotiation.
Assuming this to be the case, It still
is our belief that at this time, at least.
the risks outweigh any prospective gains
For a bilateral agreement certainly
would involve concessions on our part
which would be adverse to some Of our
allies and which they would never will
ingly accept. This would destroy the
alliance, and this. to repeat. may we'll be
the only thing the Russians are trying
to accomplish.
II we accept this, however, we must
also accept the possibility that the re-
suit will be no settlement at all with
Russia For If the President is not free
to invite Marshal zhukov to this country
because Of the effect 1t may have on
our allies, we must resign ourselves to
the alternative of stalemate and more
stalemate. We do not say this in criti-
cism OF the decision which has been
made. But we do say that this alterna-
tive is not an appealing one-especially
at a time when the Soviet satellite is
whizzing around over our heads and
when the intercontinental missile may
be Just around the corner.