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PARTISAN REVIEW
many-hours-Iong discussions with Andrei Gromyko ended unsuc–
cessfully because Gromyko clearly looks unattractive in the society of
the elegant Haig. Still, I believe and hope that there is a chance for
success .
This conference was not organized just so we could jabber, ar–
gue with one another and stir up the audience . We shouldn't squan–
der this opportunity to carry certain of our soundest and most intelli–
gent ideas to the people who determine American politics and direct
the propaganda machine. I say these words with disgust, but what
others are there, strictly speaking?
If
people correctly understand
our concern over the confrontation of the two superpowers, which at
any moment could lead the whole world to totally irreparable cata–
clysm, then this will be marvelous.
WILLIAM PHILLIPS: Mr. Siniavski.
ANDREI SINIAVSKI: I think Dovlatov was right in saying that all
the means do not justify the end . I had the opportunity of talking
with a certain very distinguished, intelligent and cultured Sovietolo–
gist, and I asked why Americans who, after all , are democrats and
liberals in their ideas, generally support nationalistic circles of the
Russian dissident movement; and he calmly replied (maybe he was
speaking for himself in the given situation), "You see, nationalism is
a real force that can oppose Communism." I asked him , "But aren't
you afraid that real nationalism in Russia may be, well, just fascism?"
And he answered, "No, why? That would be very good." So I asked
him, "Why good? After all, that would be the end of Russian culture."
He said calmly, "But we're not concerned about Russian culture,
we're worried about our security." I'm against such a policy .
WILLIAM PHILLIPS: Thank you.
WOMAN FROM THE AUDIENCE: I think it's certainly true that
any peace movement in the Soviet Union or Eastern Europe would
be viewed as subversive , just as it is here ; but the governments there
have more ways to stop or repress it. So, I think the question is, what
is the way to stimulate a peace movement in the East, if you think
that's possible? There is one growing up in East Germany. It seems
to me that what made it happen was the emergence of an indepen–
dent peace movement in the West. Another suggestion of the way to
build peace is to build American and Western weapons . Now, I
think that's counterproductive if you want to stimulate a movement
from below in the East.
What are the real ideas that America defends in the world?
It
