væ elte cc de Ltdl. (TU), London B&. u AnrAA ib torou. london Nl. ANYONE who bothered to watch the television or listen to radio on Monday - or read the Times, Guardian, or Telegraph on Tuesday - might have been excused for giving themselves a pinch to see if they were dreaming.
Ihe media seemed to be dominated by programmes praisino the new general secretary of the Communist Party the Soviet Mikhail Gorbachov.
According to Thatcher: 'I like Mr Gorbachov. We can do business together.' The waxed Incal bovel glimpse Camelot'. _ullar sUl. Gorbachov to John Kennedy abounded.
Only the new, 100 per telli Reaganite Times sterly warned in its editoria: 'n his public statements Mr Gorbachoy has shown more interest in encouraging Western European countries and Japan separate their policies Washington than in proposing major steps which| lead to cellult NOTES. In reducing tension between the military blocs.' Apart from that severe rebuke however, praise of Gorbachov abounded the 'post-war'. 'cultured", 'university educated leader of the Soviet Union. This was coupled with the now habitual sexist trash on his "attractive', "knowledgeable wife.
The reasons for this sudden outpouring of carnation 'red menace' were not hard to find Almost every editGorbachoy's accession spoke also of the arms control talks starting in Geneva.
The sudden outpouring infatuation with the Soviet leader was very much linked to increasing disillusion with the Unite States' 'Star Wars' policy.
Denis Healey was perhaps the most florid in his radio interview on Tuesday morning He announced that agreement with the Soviet Union was readily within reach and that the chief obstacle to "arms control' was now the United States government.
Healey's statement follows a long line of other West European Socialist leaders Prime Minister Craxi of Italy, Yresd ent Mitt Grand o.
President Mitterrand • wno nave nov attacked Reagan's 'Star Wars' project. Even thos who backed cruise missiles all the way are pulling off from this new twist in the arms spiral Thatcher, in her tour of the United States accepted development, though not deployment, of Tine Star Wars weapons but was criticised for doing so in Britain, has remained virtually isolated among West Euro pean capitalist leaders The idea of a defensive military screen for the United State which leaves Western Europe out in the cold does not appeal to West European governments who are well aware of the ruthless intentions • of the United States. A USSR reaction this escalation by developing its own Star Wars systems - ones that would render the British and French 'independent nuclear deterrents ineffective — is even les agreeable For that reason attempting to negotiate some sort of limitations on the whole project USSR-USA talks Geneva has become a hig DrOEV lOwes iuni pean governments Understand that and of the fraset le naseiy suddenly became vogue in important quar ters of the British medi on Monday and Tuesday.