Show Russian Fog Recent events in Russia make it likely recent speculation specula specula- tion about a rift in Soviet leadership primarily reports from western correspondents in Moscow were less than solid THE FACT that Premier Ko- Ko has publicly ridiculed such reports indicates he is willing willing willing will will- ing to go out on a limb as asto asto asto to his security Traditionally cautious Russian leaders seldom seldom seldom sel sel- sel- sel dom show such confidence unless unless unless un un- un- un less they have reason to do so The unfortunate fact is as demonstrated by this episode that Russia remains a closed society to western correspond correspond- Most of what writers get getis getis getis is gossip cocktail chit-chat chit or oran oran oran an occasional briefing from a member of their country's embassy embassy embassy em em- bassy staff or the dor EVEN WESTERN embassies often know little of what is going going going go go- ing on so it cannot be expected that reporters living in Moscow Moscow Moscow Mos Mos- cow at the pleasure of the regime would know more The recent flurry of stories that Premier was on his way out that a strong strongman man was about to take over Leonid were obviously obviously obviously ob ob- ob- ob expanded out of proportion proportion proportion pro pro- portion to actual circum circum- stances FROM TilE THE US U.S. viewpoint a continuation of the nev rule in Russia seems entirely bearable if only because something worse might follow This regime has been interested in SALT talks progress avoiding major war in the Middle l East and andin andin andin in reducing Communist Chinas China's Chinas China's Chinas China's Chi Chi- nas na's influence in Indochina While relations could be better they could also be worse and it would be less than completely truthful for forthe forthe forthe the press and Washington not notto notto notto to admit as much |