Foreign News: Dose of Castor Oil

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When President Eisenhower and Premier Bulganin smilingly shook hands at the summit parley last July, the Soviets got a propaganda windfall. Pictures of the occasion were blown up to enormous size and placarded throughout Eastern Europe as "proof" that the U.S. had made friends with the Soviet Union and no longer had any interest in setting the satellites free. Last week, when newsmen sought another smiling picture, this time of Vyacheslav Molotov chumming up with John Foster Dulles, the Secretary of State said no. It was a challenge that no photographer could or would ignore.

All week long the cameramen of many nations pursued Dulles from conference to conference, determined to catch him and Molotov in friendly discussion. They tried at Molotov's villa after Dulles paid a visit, but no sooner did the lenses appear than Dulles, who was getting into his Cadillac, brusquely told the chauffeur to "get going." When U.S. photographers asked for the usual formal portrait of all the foreign ministers, the Secretary turned it down. He had a narrow escape at the British reception, but managed to get Harold Macmillan between him and Molotov before the shutters clicked. In the end, Dulles was caught at a lunch with the Swiss President. Molotov marched up, and the Secretary was caught off guard.

Flesh touched flesh, and the deed at last was done (see cut). "They won't get any propaganda out of that one," said Dulles when he saw the prints. "I look as if I'd swallowed a dose of castor oil."