U.S.S.R. Or B.U.S.T.

The name Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has about it the deep sonority of history. Unfortunately, it is history -- or virtually so. Last week members of the Soviet parliament batted around suggested titles for the disintegrating union. Among the candidate monikers are the Union of Sovereign Soviet States (a Gorbachev favorite), the Euroasian Economic Community and the Commonwealth of Sovereign States of Europe and Asia. One cynic even suggested the Club of Crippled Nations.

The problem with the Soviet Union is that each of its many incompatible parts may be slighted by a name that failed to take specific national identities into account. The solution reached by Pakistan (an initial from each of its eight component regions) would be ideal -- except for the fact that there are 12 republics to deal with. The acronyms are hardly euphonious or politic. Turgutmakbak, for example, simply turns the new confederation into gobbledygook. Using syllables from some of the republics would be just as untenable. For example, the Belokazakirghuzbek Russukra Union (B.R.U.) would leave out the easily offended states of Tadzhikistan, Turkmenistan, Moldavia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. And what would the country's inhabitants be called? Bruskis?

The demise of the initials U.S.S.R. will mean that one classic Beatles tune will become archaic. But initials are tricky things. The Soviets (or ex- Soviets, as the case may be) should be careful not to name their country the Basically United Sovereign Territories.