Evening star., 1961-12-12
OH, THAT KREMLIN HUMOR!
Smiling Mike Breaks EN- Up
BY MARY McGRORY
Star staff Writer

Soviet Ambassador Mikhail
Menshikov's prepared speech to
the National Press Club was as
predictable as the Eichmann
verdict. In the question period,
however, his humor glowed-
rather like the night light in an
accident ward.
Mr.. Menshikov's sallies were
Of a sort to make Mort Sahl
sound like a starry-eyed men,
ber of the Peace Corps.
Smiling Mike" as he likes to
be known even interpolated a
light note in the text of his
nlimeographed remarks. He
was speaking, somewhat re-
proachfully, on the subject of
shelters. There are none in the
Soviet Union, it seems, and
this reminded him of a story.
1t goes like this:
What should we do when
the sirens go OFF,"
Wrap yourself in a sheet
and walk quietly towards the
cemetery"
why quietly?"
so as not to cause a panic"
This was the one time when
he and his audience laughed
together - at the same thing
and at the same time.
Funnier as Straight Man
Actually, Mr.. MenShikov got
his biggest yack when he was
playing it straight. His an
swer when asked why East
Germans are not allowed to go
to West Berlin brought down
the house. He waded doggedly
through the outlaws to say that
the wall had been built because
Of militafistic actions on the
other side.
Anybody can leave at any
time, simply by applying to the
authorities, he said, while his
audience hooted. 1t just hap
pened that the hasty conStruc-
ton caught agents and provo
cateurs who are still trying to
escape.
The first words Of the next
question - do you agree with
Mr.. Khrushchev that -
broke everybody up anew"
Mr.. Menshikov did not crack
a smile. He waited for the full
text, which was: do you agree
with Mr.. Khrushchev that the
United States wants to domi-
nate the world?" /
Mr.. MenShikov. as it turned
out, did. Our "imperialistic
tendencies" it seems, had come
to his attention.
Bomb Joke Is a BLAST"
He was pretty funny about
the new Soviet nuclear bombs,
too. in a mordant kind of way.
1t was joke in which timing
was everything. and his was
perfect.
Your papers are a little op-
timistic when they say how
many bombs we have" Pause.
Optimistic for you, that is"
At other moments, Mr.. Men
shikov sounded a little like
Premier Khrushchev with his
shoes on.
How did he feel, for instance,
about Fidel Castro's letting the
cat out of the bag that he's a
Communist.
Mr.. Menshikov said he hadn't
read the statement because it
hasn't been published yet, ap-
parently on the grounds that
nothing has happened until
Pravda says so.
AS for Fidel's shy bid to be
included in the Warsaw Pact,
Mr.. Menshikov will leave the
future to the gypsies.
They are better at guess
ing" he said.
Does Some Guessing, Too
He doesn't think the Alba
nian people will tolerate the
kind of leadership they have
for a very long time, he said. a
moment later-having decided
that there is some fortune-tell-
ing that cannot be left to the
gypsies.
He was all smiles about Rus
sian-Chinese relations. 1--WE are
unshakable allies" he said.
The alliance between the So
Wet Union and China is much
firmer than the ties between
the United States and some of
your allies" /
He saved his biggest joke for
the last.
II wish you all a Happy
Christmas and all best wishes
for the New Year"