The World: Pleasing Results

Flying into Budapest in the course of an 18-day, ten-nation swing through Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe, U.S. Secretary of State William Rogers prepared for a meeting with Hungarian Party Boss Janos Kadar that briefers advised him would be courteous but cool. Instead, Rogers found that the Hungarians had literally and figuratively rolled out a red carpet for him. In a 75-minute session (it was scheduled for only a half-hour), Rogers and Kadar explored the prospects of increased trade and technological support for a Communist country whose relations with the U.S. since. World War II have been mostly acrimonious.

Hungary was not the only stop during Rogers' trip where things went unexpectedly well. In Yemen, where he had to fly through sandstorms to dine with dagger-armed tribal chieftains, diplomatic relations were resumed after a five-year hiatus. The Secretary of State watched as the U.S. flag was raised over the embassy in San'a for the first time since the outbreak of the 1967 war between Israel and the Arabs. In return Washington last week began talks on a new U.S. assistance program for the Yemenis.

As far as Washington is concerned, the situations that produced both overtures are more significant than the size of the countries involved. "No peace can last," Rogers said in Budapest, "unless each country, regardless of its strength or its political beliefs, works actively to preserve it." Yemen was willing to play down its Arab nationalism and pro-Russian sentiments because it wants Western technical advice. Some U.S. diplomats feel that Sudan and Algeria, which have similar needs, may soon follow Yemen in resuming relations with the U.S. For its part, Hungary was taking advantage of the good feelings produced by the Moscow summit to branch out a little from the dominating shadow of the Soviet Union.

The progress of new friendship between contrasting governments is obviously bound to be uncertain. Yemen's decision to renew its ties with the U.S. brought howls of outrage from Cairo. Kadar, meanwhile, advised Rogers: "Please remember Hungary's tragic history, its geographical position and its lack of resources." This seemed to mean that even though Budapest seeks closer relations with Washington, it may be forced from time to time to stiffen its attitude in order to appease Moscow.