Evening star., 1960-05-15
Clouds at the Summit


on the eve of the summit conference in
Paris. No international meeting could
seem less promising. Indeed, events
have put such chill on it in advance
that some of the more nervous diplo-
matte sources fear that the gathering
may end almost as soon as it begins,
with nothing but failure to report to an
anxious world
The primary reason for this pes
sinism, Of course, is the fact that for
more than a week past, in rising Gre
scendo, Nikita Khrushchev-who gov
ernment runs the most sinister and
far-reaching espionage organization in
hiStory-has been directing an all-out
propaganda campaign based on the
downing of our U-2 "spy plane" deep
inside Russia. Holier-than-thou in tone
and basically hypocritical in character,
the campaign has been compounded,
among other things, of sulphurouS
speeches, news conferences, press blasts
and formal notes laShing out against
our country and its allies.
Moreover, as addressed to PakiStan,
Turkey and Norway, the notes have
brandiShed rockets and voiced threats
in an altogether ugly manner-So much
so that the Norwegian government, while
protesting to the State Department
against the flight plan of our downed
U-2, has sharply rebuked the Kremlin,
and the Turks and Pakistani may be
expected to do the same. Premier Khru-
shchev, however, apparently is deter
mined to carry on his campaign with
unremitting vigor, even at the summit,
and one effect of it may we'll be to bring
about a cancellation of President Eisen-
hower's projected visit to the Soviet
Union.
So it is difficult to feel much hope
fulneSS about the possibility that the
Paris get-together may succeed in pro-
noting genuine progress toward agree
ment on such matters as disarmament,
the Presidents revived proposal for
"open Skies" and the status of free
Berlin. Actually, even before the U-2
furor, good meeting of minds on issues
of this sort seemed improbable, and now
it appears to be more remote than ever
current line, which includes threatful
talk about signing a separate treaty
with East Germany-a move that could
make Berlin the focal point of a grave
new crisis.
Still, as long as East and West keep
the doors open to negotiation, there will
be at least some basis for hoping, de-
Snife oil prnSent diSpnIlroUcn1nntS that
a real detente may be reached even
tually-a relaxation of tension enduring
enough to encourage a Step-by-step
advance toward decent peace AS
to that, the following observation, as
voiced last November by Secretary Her
ter. still seems very much to the point:
~ Mr. Khrushchev has said that we
need to develop a common language, de-
spite the theological conflict to which he
staunchly adheres. Many will find this
hard to believe after the years of battling
double talk. Yet believe that on GER
tain fundamentals we can find common
language because we have common in
terest. That interest lies simply in the
basic will to survive shared by free
men and Communists alike. I think the
Soviet leadership is reaching a conclu-
sion similar to our own-that unless the
course of events is changed and changed
soon. both sides face unacceptable risks
Of general nuclear war; which would
approximate mutual suicide.
Certainly, If this estimate of Soviet
thinking continues to hold true today,
then the Paris conference may accom-
plish some good as the start of series
of such meetings In any event. as he
prepares to meet there with Mr.. Khru-
shehev, President Eisenhower can be
sure that he has on his side the hopes,
prayers and full support of the Amer
ican people.