Posted on September 15, 2009 - by Venik

From the archive: Khrushchev – the good neighbour

Originally published on 16 September 1959

WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 15.

In almost his first words in the United States after his plane landed this morning, Mr Khrushchev said: “We have come here with an open heart and good intentions.”

Mr Khrushchev was on his best behaviour. He made no attempt to attract attention to himself. At all times he was courteous, restrained, dignified. President Eisenhower deferred constantly to his guest. In the parade he waved only rarely to the crowd and allowed Mr Khrushchev to hold attention by his rather flamboyant gesture in holding his hat high over his head.

Mr Eisenhower said that he hoped the talks would be useful. Mr Khrushchev would have a chance to inspect for himself “our country, our customs, and our people.” It was at this point that Mr Eisenhower made his declaration that the United States could never be an aggressor, since it was governed by public opinion, which was at all times the master of the Government.

The speech was translated into Russian and on its conclusion Mr Khrushchev applauded vigorously. Then he put on his glasses, pulled several sheets of paper from his pocket and began to read. It was a model of graceful restraint, in which prudent references to Russian power were mingled with pledges of peaceful purpose.

He made his first impressive point when he thanked Mr Eisenhower most cordially for the gallant welcome which had been extended to him and his family. He recalled that he had left Russia early this morning and due to the difference in time zones had been able to arrive in Washington while it was still morning here.

This speed of travel led Mr Khrushchev to remark that it should be plain to everyone that “our countries are not so distant from each other.” Sometimes this fact of geography provokes alarm in the United States, but Mr Khrushchev to-day was trying very hard to speak as a friendly neighbour. The people of all countries, he added, could accept the principle that war promised them nothing, while all advantages were to be gained from continued peace.

Then came the unostentatious but emphatic references to Russia’s scientific and military power. He referred to the fact that a road had been blazed from the earth to the moon by a Russian rocket. The Russian flag was now on the moon. He had no doubt that the genius of American engineers would soon enable an American pennant to be placed beside it. So let both pennants, Mr Khrushchev said, fly in peace together; and let that be an emblem for the search for peace on earth.

Original article

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