The Politics of Opinion

In part as retaliation for anti-Soviet demonstrations over the fate of accused Jewish plane hijackers, much of the Communist world, led by Moscow, began a propaganda campaign against the trial of Angela Davis in California. One of the first attacks came from 14 prominent Russian scientists who wrote a letter to President Nixon suggesting that Miss Davis was being persecuted for her Communist ideology and black activism.

Nixon's reply, made through Assistant Secretary of State Martin Hillenbrand, demonstrated that he too understands the best uses of propaganda. In a shrewd and unprecedented gesture, he simply invited the 14 Russians to attend the trial to satisfy themselves that Miss Davis "will receive the same evenhanded treatment under the American system of jurisprudence as any other individual charged with a crime."

The idea suggests an interesting if farfetched notion that some time in the future both countries might arrange to exchange observers at such trials, thus to monitor the levels of political repression. Almost no one, however, believes that the Soviet scientists will be permitted to accept. One man who worries that they might be is the Marin County prosecutor--but not because he has anything to hide. He simply feels that the 104-seat courtroom where Miss Davis will be tried would overflow with the Russians, their interpreters, diplomatic escorts and security guards.

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