Word: smirnov
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...those in the West who continue to argue that if Russia was reasonable enough to give up its Cuban bases, the U.S. ought to give up some of its own bases. A first sign of the line came at a Bonn reception last week when Soviet Ambassador Andrei Smirnov planted his tall, bearlike figure solidly before one of West Germany's top diplomats, Franz Krapf, head of the Foreign Office's Eastern section...
Soviet Ambassador Andrei Smirnov kept pleading, with anyone who would listen, for separate negotiations between Russia and West Germany. Breaking precedent, Smirnov even showed up at a U.S. newsman's cocktail party in Bonn to buttonhole guests with his persistent questions: "Why are you afraid to let the West Germans talk...
...Moscow-Bonn talks so long as they are coordinated with the U.S., Britain and France in advance. But this is not what Moscow has in mind at all: it wants to huddle with the West Germans in complete isolation, split the Western allies. To plug the idea further, Smirnov issued informal invitations to a Herrenabend (stag evening) at the Soviet embassy, where he hoped to persuade key members of the parliament over caviar and vodka. Back in his office after a two-week bout with flu, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer got wind of Smirnov's projected party, ordered his lieutenants...
...been easy for the West Germans to turn their backs on the Soviet proposal, for Smirnov has offered not the slightest hint of what political price Moscow might be prepared to offer in any negotiations. But in their pitch, the Russians have firm backing from all their allies-even Marshal Tito has stopped Yugoslavia's hate-Germany campaign to sweeten the atmosphere-and the Smirnov line still has some appeal in West Germany. Particularly interested: Erich Mende, leader of Adenauer's little Free Democratic coalition partners, who has long sought closer contact with Moscow to spur chances...
Silhouetted against the Soviet embassy's big picture window overlooking the Rhine, Ambassador Andrei Smirnov wore a thoughtful look as he toyed with his vodka glass. Before him sat his West German guests-editors, members of the Bundestag, an official from the government press office. Moscow's new policy, pleaded Smirnov, is not meant as "bait," or as "mere propaganda." The "highest personality in the Soviet Union" (Nikita Khrushchev) is behind this idea: the Soviet Union and West Germany must "normalize" their relations. Russia is no longer disposed to deal only with the U.S., Britain and France...