Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-25
Journeys End

The point has been reached In the
KhruShchev spectacular at which the
tumult and the shouting dies and the
captains and the kings depart-for
Camp David.
This is something which must evoke
a massive sigh Of relief from all con-
cerned-from Mr.. Khrushchev himself,
his hosts along the way, his security
guards and, by no means least, the
laundering herd of exhausted reporters
who followed in the wake of this ex-
ceedingly durable Soviet Premier.
The Khrushchev journey has been
a tour to end all tours, and Just what
kind Of balance should be struck is any
ones guess. At the least, however,
Nikita Khrushchev has seen America
and America has seen Nikita Khru-
Shchev, for better or worse In each in
stance. Our impression is that, on the
whole, Mr.. KhruShchev has walked off
with the blue ribbon. He has not
seemed like man who would be likely
to push the button that would send the
bombers and the missiles on their way.
Instead, not unlike one of our own we'll
known and much-liked public figures,
he has managed nice blend of good
humor and bad temper. When he has
had something to say he has said 1t,
without seeming to care much where
the verbal chips might fall. He has
shown that he knows the uses of the
sharp retort to blunt a pointed ques-
ton. He has paid some homage to our
system without retreating an inch from
his freely proclaimed belief in the su-
periority, ultimately If not now, Of the
Russian system. And when it all has
been added up, we think the net effect
is that most Americans have a better
feeling about Nikita Khrushchev than
they had week or ten days ago.
( Popular impressions, however, do
not count for much in the final score
books. They can help prepare the
climate for serious discussions of real
issues, but that is all they can do. They
cannot, Of themselves, resolve any issue.
This latter can be accomplished
only If Mr.. Khrushchev made his visit
to the United States because he really
wants relaxation of cold war tensions.
And the test of this will come, now that
the meet-the-people journey is over, as
Mr.. Khrushchev sits down for private
discussions with Mr.. Eisenhower in the
secluSion of the Presidents Maryland
retreat.
To say this is not to suggest that
any important or dramatic agreements
should be expected to emerge from the
Camp David talks. 1t is most unlikely
that anything of the sort will happen.
At Camp David, however, the Soviet
Premier will be under no compulSion to
act or pose. Reporters will not be hang
ing on his every word and cameras will
not be recording each smile and frown.
Thus, at the least, he and the President
should be able to talk frankly-and if
they do this each man should be able
to form an estimate as to the others
real intentions.
We have hoped, and we continue to
hope, that the Khrushchev- Eisenhower
exchange Of visits will not be Just a
propaganda stunt or a three-ring cir
Gus. There are compelling reasons why
both men, and both nations, should
sincerely want improved relations. And
If the mutual desire exists there is no
reason why the improvement should not
be forthcoming. The private discussions
at Camp David, as distinguished from
the whoop-la of the cross-country tour,
should produce the initial test.