Moscow Invasion

In the days before Stalin's death, only six non-Communist newsmen worked and lived in Moscow. Others could not get permanent visas or, even if they could, decided that ironhanded Russian censorship made working in Moscow almost useless. By last week, with the Communists stepping up their "peace offensive," Russia had more non-Communist correspondents than at any time since World War II (except for such special occasions as the Foreign Ministers' conferences of 1945 and 1947). More than 40 U.S., British, French, Canadian, German and Indian newsmen were covering Russia, many on guided tours. The German and Indian reporters were obviously invited as part of the stepped-up Communist campaign to woo their countries politically. At least three of the U.S. correspondents (New York Herald Tribune's Frank Kelley, New York Post's Seymour Freidin and National Broadcasting Co.'s Jack Begon) got visas as a result of Khrushchev's tipsy invitation in Belgrade early last month after a 3 1/2-hour state dinner with Tito (TIME, June 13).

Censorship was also slightly relaxed; visiting newsmen were allowed to telephone their stories from their hotel rooms. Russia's official news agency, Tass, was also easing up. Tass allowed the Moscow Associated Press and United Press bureaus to buy its service so that they could read Russian news as it came off the teleprinter in their own offices. But reporters permanently assigned to Russia still found their movements carefully held in check. And most of the newcomers were reporting little that was new. Even Columnist Stewart Alsop, who arrived in Russia last week after "writing personally" to Khrushchev for a visa was forced into an unusually humble admission. Wrote Alsop: "Alas, after fully four days in Russia, this reporter still does not know the truth about this strange country."

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