Evening star., 1960-05-13
Presidents Soviet Trip Chances Better
After Khrushchev Softens Remarks
By GARNETT d. HORNER
Star stan Writer

Star staff Writer
Chances for President Eisen-
hower's scheduled June visit to
Russia going through as
planned seem to be perking up
again today.
The seesawing ION again, of
again" affair was given a tilt
70 the "on" side by the delayed
,ofncial version of Soviet Pre-
mier Khrushchev's remarks
that had made it appear Mr..
Eisenhower would be an un-
welcome guest.
The President was leaving it
Squarely up to Mr.. Khrushchev
whether he should cancel the
trip.
In the oficial softening Of
Mr.. Khrushchev'S Wednesday
remarks critical Of the Presi-
dent, American officials saw
some support for their belief
that the Soviet Premier really
wants to try to keep q person.
ally friendly note in his rela-
tions with Mr.. Eisenhower de-
Jpite his angry denunciation
Of the United States for send
ing . spy plane over Russia.
Wednesday Quotes
As to whether he wanted the
President to visit Russia next
month, the Soviet Premier was
quoted in the Wednesday dis
patches as saying: Can / urge
the Russian people to greet him
rs q dear guest? The Russian
people would say I was mad to
welcome man who sends spy
planes over here like that"
American correspondents had
part of their stories held up by
Moscow censorship. Then the
official Soviet news agency
TaSs' account of the impromptu
KhruShchev press conference
Wednesday started arriving
Apparently Mr.. Khrushchev
or someone in his confidence
had taken q lot of time to
soften up the impact of what
he had actually said in his off,
the-cuff answers to reporters
questions. Because the Tass
version of a critical part of the
"unwelcome guest" passage
went like this:
". My hopes have been
somewhat disappointed so
how can I now call on our peo-
pie to turn out and welcome the
dear guest that is coming to U.S."
(The implication that Mr..
Eisenhower still is coming as a
dear guest" is quite different
from asking whether he can be
greeted as dear guest.)
Doubt Cast on Red Motives
Last night the United States
officially charged that MoScow's
treatment Of the spy case casts
doubt on whether Mr.. Khru-
shchev really intends progress
at the summit toward easing
EaSt-West tensions.
The allegation was contained
in a 250-word note replying to
the Kremlin's May 10 protest
about the May Day flight deep
into Soviet territory by Amer
lean Pilot Francis G. Powers.
1t denied "any aggressive in
tent" and said Americas in
telligence gathering is "for
purely defensive purposes"
1t also denied the Soviet
accusation that the May
flight was undertaken de-
liberately to wreck the long
awaited summit parley.
Indeed" the United States
note said, lit is the Soviet
governments treatment of this
case which, If anything. may
raise questions about its in
tentions in respect to these
matters"
The note concluded:
"For its part, the United
States Government will partici-
pate in the Paris meetings on
May is prepared to cooperate
to the fullest extent in seeking
agreements designed to reduce
tensions, including effective
safeguards against surprise at
tack which would make un-
necessary issues of this kind"
Tass Account
The Tass account of Mr..
Khrushchev's Wednesday re-
marks said:
THE people will say: Are
you nuts? What kind of a dear
guest is he who lets a plane fly
to us to Spy?'
The American militariSts,
who sent a plane on spy mis-
sion to this country. have put
me, as one responsible for the
arrangement for the United
States Presidents arrival in the
USSR, in very difficult position.
Frankly speaking, 1 think the
United States President under
stands this himself. E.
"One can guarantee, however,
that during the Presidents visit
there will be no exceSses. Ours
are courteous people. They let
off steam in words and will
leave it to the government 10
act. They will not indulge in
any insulting actions"
Peace Optimism Claimed
At another point, TaSs quoted
the Soviet Premier as optimistic
for peace and friendship with
America despite the current
furor over the spy plane in
cident.
Mr.. Khrushchev was quoted
as saying:
IF you newsmen inform the
public correctly, this incident
as every other incident, will
finally be digested.
After all, gentlemen, we