Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-04

I am disturbed by the
published comments of some
Of Washington's citizens re-
garding the prospective visit
of Soviet Premier Khru-
shchev. and particularly by
their feelings about the plan
Of flying the USSR's ham
mer and sickle" with the
Stars and Stripes along the
Memorial Bridge.
These people who are ris-
ing in an admirable spirit of
patriotism against the visible
symbol Of an oppresser ma
ton and its leader should
remember several things:
First, Nikita Khrushchev is
recognized in every nation on
the globe as the leader Of
one Of the two greatest pow
ers in the world today. Al
though Americans and other
free-thinking nations do not
admire his country's govern
mental philosophy or system.
his position as a powerful
world leader remains unques-
toned.
Second, Americans can re-
call without difhculty the
recent triumphs Of our own
Vice President Richard Nix
on in his tour of Russia.
The Russian people as q
whole, both powerful digni-
taries and the man-in-the-
street, treated him respect
fully and kindly. Can we be
expected to do less?
Third, do these patriotic
Americans realize what the
visit of the Soviet Premier
means to the prospects of
world peace? Most people
are very free in advocating
peace at any price"-as
long as the payments are
made in dollars and cents!
But the only way that we
can ever have a semblance
OF peace in this world is
through the personal and
national practice of the
much-diScuSsed theory Of
peaceful coexistence." And
this is not to be accomplished
by disrespect to the Soviet
leader or to his country's
flag.
I don't advocate that
the American people should
praise the wonderful contri-
buttons Of the Communist
system to world peace and
happiness, but let's give the
Russians credit for their SCI
entific advancement, and let's
give Khrushchev the respect
due the leader of a powerful
nation. even though we may
not approve Of the way his
nation achieved that power,
or of the methods which they
pursue in keeping it.
Paula Becker.
The letters which have ap-
peared in The Star on
Khrushchev's contemplated
visit have been extremely
venomous. In their self-recti-
tude. their sureness as to
where all wrongs lie, and in
their inflexibility they APP
proach the object Of their
disapproval, to wit. Khru-
shchev.
1t is easy to list many
wrongs Of the Russians and
to place responsibility upon
their leader. But what have
these letter writer's had to
say about Franco, Peron, De
Gaulle algerian atrocities).
and the scores Of other die
tators with whom we have
had contact? And who was 1t
who dropped an atom bomb
upon a city Of civilians?
It was not too long ago
that we were inveighing
against the Iron curtain"
Now, when the iron curtain
is being removed, these let
ter writer's would maintain 1t
on our part against the Rus
sian leaders.
Rarely is something as bad
as one imagines 1t to be. 1t is
by contact with one another
that individuals and countries
learn to get along. This, we
can hope. may apply to
Khrushchev's views of us, and,
possibly of our views of him.
And II 1t be said that this is
probably a vain hope, I think
1t is still more certain that
without such contact, peace
in our time will not come and
war will become more likely.
I, for one, hope Khru-
shchey does come to this
country and is received with
the courtesy that has been
accorded high-placed Ameri-
cans in Russia.
Philip Marcus.
4 4 \
The Committee Against
Summit Entanglements has