Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17
Khrushchev Meets Press

IL VIII De interesting to see what
kind of proposal Nikita KhruShchev
submits tomorrow to the United Nations
on the disarmament question, the most
burning issue of our time" In his talk
to the National Press Club, however, he
seemed more concerned with another
iSSue-the German question
Some note should be taken of the
fact that the Soviet Premier stated that
he could not be expected "to say here
all that I have said or intend to say to
the President" We hope this means
that his position in the Camp David
discussions win not be as uncompromis-
ing and as unyielding as that taken in
his meeting with the press.
Still, until the contrary is shown,
1t has to be assumed that Mr.. Khru-
shchev will not retreat far from the
stand he has taken publicly. So what is
that stand?
AS we read his speech, he was say
ing that any settlement of the German
question-and this question lies at the
heart of our differenceS-must be based
on acceptance of the status quo. The
fact is, he said, that two German states
exist regardless of our wishes and our
attitude toward them" Then came the
following: I'VE must take this into ac-
count. The best policy is a realistic
policy. There is only one way QUITO
acknowledge that there exist two Ger
man states, i.e., recognize the status
quo in the German question, and con-
clude a peace treaty with the two
German states :"
Mr.. KhruShchev went on to argue
that this would make possible salts
factory settlement of the Berlin ques-
ton, and, in the end, "the establishment
Of mutual trust and peaceful CO.
operation"
Next, he talked, with some plausi-
bility, of alternatives. The United States
and Russia, he said, are faced with the
prospect that modern scientific and
technical developments "wil be placed
in the service of peaceful future" or
they will be used for purposes of de-
Struction with the result that "the earth
will be covered with ashes and graves"
The Soviet Union, he said, is ready
prevent the latter result, provided the
two countries will meet each other
halfway" He conceded that this can
not be done all at once, since "too much
misunderstanding and prejudice born Of
the cold war have accumulated for this"
He insisted, however, that the inter-
national climate has improved, and that
more progress is both necessary and
possible.
Finally, the Soviet Premier argued
that other nations should not fear, but
rather should welcome, an improvement
In relations between his country and
ours. "If the USSR and the United
States, as a result of this exchange of
opinions, come to understand each other
better and show more give in the solu-
ton of disputes, this will be to the
benefit Of all countries, large and small"
All of this raises obvious questions
What does Mr.. Khrushchev mean by
meeting halfway" What is the Soviet
Union prepared to "give" in exchange
for better understanding? In the con-
text of his remarks on the German
question, he is not prepared to "give"
anything. And if this is so, If this
is his final position, what will we do?
Will we modify our position, accept the
"fact" of two GermanieS, and try to
build something new on that dubious
foundation, or will we accept the risk
of the alternative which Mr.. Khru-
shchev processes to foresee-a war that
would leave the earth in ashes?
These are harsh, ugly questions. But
they must be faced up to, for they will
not be considerate enough just to go
away.