DOGGEREL FOR DIPLOMATS

IN the modern world, tribute bestowed is usually carefully blocked out for television cameras or handed to the press in mimeographed texts. It was, therefore, a breath of refreshing antiquity when Lord Caradon, Britain's chief U.N. delegate, last week took the floor of the Security Council to celebrate something in proper heraldic verse. His rhyme pays tribute to Russia's efforts in winning U.N. endorsement of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, and his hero, slightly less than epic, is the head of Russia's negotiating team, First Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily V. Kuznetsov:

When prospects are dark and hopes are dim

We know that we must send for him.

When storms and tempests fill the sky.

Bring on Kuznetsov is the cry!

He comes like a dove from the Communist ark And light appears where all was dark.

His coming quickly turns the tide, The propaganda floods subside.

And now that he has changed the weather Lion and lamb can vote together.

God bless the'Russian delegation.

I waive consecutive translation.

Several other poets, at TIME'S request, submitted responses to which they might be moved by events at the U.N. --real ones or otherwise.

W. H. von Dreele, contributor to National Review, disagreed with' Poet Caradon's poem to the Russian:

M'Lud, I read your verses for

The Soviet Ambassador.

God bless, indeed, a planet which

One won't be called upon to ditch.

Apparently the Russian tries.

(Nobody wants to vaporize!)

But don't you think this recent da

Was rather like endorsing Ma?

He'smore at ease intoning nyet

Lest we, and Hungary, forget.

Margaret Fishback, advertising copywriter and author of light verse, commented on a call by Yakov A. Malik, Russia's permanent representative to the U.N., for an agreement outlawing military use of the world's sea beds:

How does the U.N. rest its head

When it is time to go to bed?

To banish thoughts of nuclear war

It dwells upon the ocean floor.

No qualms about a Wailing Wall

Or Chairman Mao or De Gaulle

Disturbs the members' well-earned rest.

There's peace in each nocturnal nest

Upon the Depths they concentrate

As down, not up, they escalate.

So here's to Yakov Malik's wish

For lasting peace among the fish.

Marya Mannes, satirical poet, novelist and critic, visualized an event long foreseen and long forestalled:

And so one day it came to pass

Within the tower made of glass

That vetoing inherent sin,

The nations voted China in,

and turned to watch with solemn faces

the True Believers take their places--

Yet not before their chairman swum

nine miles against East River scum,

and placed before all delegations,

Red-bound, his future meditations.

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