5,000 Words

Nine days after President Eisenhower challenged Moscow to prove peaceful intent by deeds, not words, the masters in the Kremlin replied--with 5,000 words. They spoke through a long, front-page editorial in Pravda, Izvestia, and other leading papers; inside, on page 3, appeared a belated, full translation of Eisenhower's address (TIME, April 27).

Professing "a feeling of sympathy" for the U.S. President's aim of a "true and total peace," the Soviet statement: 1) unsympathetically rejected all of Eisenhower's minimum terms for a global settlement; 2) indirectly countered with some Soviet terms, e.g., no rearming of Western Germany, a U.N. seat--and Formosa --for Red China, no change in Red domination of Eastern Europe. Though there seemed no meeting of minds at all, the "Soviet leaders" still wanted "a serious, businesslike discussion of problems both by direct negotiations and, when necessary, within the framework of the U.N."

Without making any concessions, the Kremlin was plainly maneuvering for big-power talks. In the past, such palavers have invariably won the Communists major advantages in propaganda and power politics. A lot of talk now could possibly stall or check such positive Western moves as the European Defense Community or increased pressure on the Red Chinese. But the Russian bid for a conference has growing support among West Europeans and neutralist Asians.

After talking over the Russian editorial with Eisenhower, White House Press Secretary James C. Hagerty gave the U.S. reply: "The Pravda editorial cannot be considered a substitute for an official action by the Soviet leaders. Maybe this editorial is a first step toward something concrete. If so, the free world will continue to wait for the definite steps that must be made if the Soviet leaders are sincerely interested in a cooperative solution to world problems."

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