Desire of the majority of Americans

(The following appeared in the May 20, 1972, edition of Pravda and has been translated and condensed from the Russian.)

Many local newspapers and radio and television commentators these days are emphasizing that the Soviet Union is displaying an intention to implement the principles of peaceful coexistence consistently and fully and to develop mutually advantageous ties with the U.S.A., giving them a stable nature. For this reason, observers here believe that, as a result of the Soviet-American talks, conditions may evolve for a substantial expansion in the sphere of cooperation between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A.

The New York Times commentator Reston writes that the meeting in Moscow will discuss the practical possibilities of limited but very important spheres of cooperation. "The differences are great," he notes, "but there are very important points in common and, most important, there is a desire to avoid global war and slow the arms race."

Commentators are recalling that, with the participation of the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A., a number of agreements conducive to restraining the arms race and easing international tension have been achieved. In particular, the important quadripartite agreement on West Berlin has been achieved, and this is helping to normalize the political climate in Europe. An agreement has been signed on measures to reduce the danger of the outbreak of nuclear war, as well as an agreement on improving direct communications between the two countries for use in emergency situations. The positive experience won in achieving these agreements facilitates the carrying out of further constructive actions for the benefit of world peace -- this is what sober-thinking Americans believe.

Local commentators are enthusiastically discussing the possibilities for the improvement of Soviet-American trade relations. The New York Times notes that it is in the interests of the U.S.A. to develop trade contacts with the Soviet Union. Life has demonstrated the senselessness of the so-called embargo on "strategic goods" that Washington imposed at one time. The New York Times emphasizes that the lessons of the world monetary and financial crisis and the devaluation of the dollar have not been learned in vain. The U.S.A. has put itself in a disadvantageous position with respect to Japan, the F.R.G. and its other competitors.

In the judgment of U.S. experts, the high level of scientific and technical development, the scope of domestic markets and the presence of large natural resources in the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. and, most important, the high and stable growth rates of the Soviet economy open up broad possibilities in the sphere of trade. Therefore, there is great interest in U.S. business circles in the prospects for the expansion of economic ties with the U.S.S.R.

L. Morgan, vice president of the major company Caterpillar Tractor, which produces road building and farm equipment, has spoken out in favor of the development of American-Soviet trade. He stated that mutually advantageous trade relations between the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union would be a contribution to the cause of peace. "To speed up the process of the improvement of American-Soviet economic relations," Morgan said, "the United States should grant most-favored-nation terms to Soviet goods exported to the U.S.A. and should resolve the question of credits for American exports to the U.S.S.R."

American commentators also list such fields as the development of science, the utilization of the natural resources of the world's oceans, the struggle against pollution of the natural environment, etc., as spheres in which our countries have common interests. ...