TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTER
DCA-SVO COMMEMORATIVE FLIGHT, Report 5
June 20, 1988
Dear Friends:
This report might have reached you earlier, but once again it seemed appropriate to delay it until after the Summit meeting. How nice to have watched the Reagan/Gorbachev "chemistry" develop in such a positive way. The warm personal relationship between the two leaders benefits us all.
My April/May travel to the USSR and West Germany went well. And, in recent months exciting developments with TEN ROMEO and related aircraft matters have occurred which should be shared with you.
Because of the extensive information available, this Report #5 will deal with foreign travel, and a second newsletter on aircraft matters will soon follow.
But - on to my April/May travel report!
Two significant events happened just before my departure for the USSR on April 18th.
First, two days before leaving I received a telephone call from one of my close Soviet friends. This is an unusual event, and took me by surprise.
"Millard, did you know that our governments are working on establishing a 'demilitarized zone' between East and West in Europe?"
I indicated I was not aware of such plans, but the concept was not surprising to me. When opposing armies face one another, common sense suggests separation is a safety factor. My friend continued:
"Would you and TEN ROMEO be willing to inaugurate such a zone by an overflight from north to south? You and your FRIENDSHIP BRIDGES with TEN ROMEO have a considerable following worldwide, and we think such a flight would be most appropriate as an East/West link to reduce tensions!"
My response was immediate!
"TEN ROMEO's 'WINGS OF FRIENDSHIP' are available for a European DMZ overflight at any time, my friend!"
The unusual telephone call was for my approval of such a plan before giving wide circulation to the concept.
There is no guarantee that such a "demilitarized zone" will ever come about. The value of such a buffer corridor is obvious, but there is strong opposition from East and West Germany to keep artificial demarcations between the two Germanys to a minimum. There is the basic hope among Germans that their country will eventually be reunified. Such a possibility instills apprehension in many quarters.
But - the thought of inaugurating a "demilitarized zone" with an overflight by TEN ROMEO is a delightful dream, if the political negotiations can bring about such an important CBM (Confidence Building Measure from the Helsinki Accords). I can see in my imagination the start of the flight coming south out of the Baltic Sea as a formation of three, with the Mig-31 on my left peeling off to the East, and the F-16 on my right peeling off to the West, leaving the "demilitarized zone" to be overflown by TEN ROMEO all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Then, a return flight north with a stop in each capital for a celebration. Exciting possibilities!
The second event came about in March. With plans for the Summit in place, my local newspaper, the SPOTLIGHT, asked that I provide a guest editorial on my perception of Gorbachev's leadership.
This was an opportunity to provide in print the major theme of my lecture circuit in creating increased understanding of Soviets by Americans, - a complement to my "FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE" flights to Moscow.
About this time I met a friend in a local bank whom I hadn't seen for many years. Fred said, "Millard - what happened to that intensely anti-communist young man who worked for me many years ago? I've been reading about your FRIENDSHIP FLIGHTS in the papers lately and it seems you've changed your tune drastically!"
The Commissioner was correct - there had been a major change in my position vis-à-vis the Soviet Union in recent years. But Fred, and perhaps other friends, may not have understood the evolution of my change in viewpoint. The guest editorial would allow me to picture the Soviet Union in a more positive way than most media references - a nation in transition, with the hope that the Soviets will adopt a more responsible position toward world events.
A copy of that guest editorial is a part of this report. It is more positive than I could have written prior to Gorbachev's influence within the Soviet society.
Obviously, my 1958 experience in the USSR on my doctorate field study of Ten Year Soviet Schools provided a positive foundation to build upon. I fell in love with the wonderful Soviet school children, and made friends with their teachers and administrators. Then, in 1983 my circle of Soviet friends began to grow - Trapeznikov, Ivanova, Plekhanov, Chkalov, Sturua, Tazabrin, Lyubimov, Zima Lavkovskiy, Zarabov, Kourkov, Samoroukov, Shumsky - to mention only a few. I have come to trust these friends.
Problems between nations are complex, but lack of simple trust can be a basic barrier to improved relations. While I have not met Gorbachev personally, I have seen him on Soviet TV and have become a student of his pronouncements. He seems, in many ways, similar to my new circle of Soviet friends. He is well dressed, well mannered, and what he says is measured and more reasonable than that we have been accustomed to. My perception of Gorbachev may be a carry-over of the trust I have for my personal Soviet friends. Some Americans are unhappy with my open-mindedness toward the new Soviet leadership. Those most unhappy with my position have never been to the USSR. I believe my position, while marked by my usual optimism, is based upon Soviet contacts over 30 years, observed facts, and astute evaluations.
There is, however, one more factor which allows me to view the new Soviet leadership with an open mind. That is the strengthened military position of the United States since 1981. Generosity can best be offered from strength. A new kind of leadership is emerging in the USSR. The US is strong, and hopefully secure enough to accept Gorbachev's comments at face value. We should be patient and wait for Soviet deeds to catch up with promises.
For thirty years I have trusted my Soviet friends, and that trust has been well founded. The Soviets have supported most of my objectives. Obstacles I encountered were bureaucratic in nature, with misunderstandings a function of language slippage. Soviet response toward my interests has been positive.
An important bench mark will be reached when the Soviets unilaterally decrease their Eastern European conventional military strength. When this happens critics of Gorbachev in the West may be more comfortable. Judging Gorbachev on the basis of pre-Gorbachev Soviet action may then decline.
Tom Mcpheeters, editor of the SPOTLIGHT, sent a copy of my March 30th guest editorial to NOVOSTI NEWS in Moscow through the Soviet Embassy in Washington, a reciprocal process to the NOVOSTI article Tom received some time ago about my Moscow press coverage. I carried a copy of Tom's packet with me to Moscow for hand delivery to my NOVOSTI friends.
Upon my arrival in Tallinn, I was disappointed to learn that my friends, the Kesas, had not been given permission to return with me for a visit to the States. Security, the police and Moscow officials had approved the trip. I understand the one negative vote came from the Estonian Communist Party, and was based upon the Kesa/Harmon friendship being "casual" and not family or professionally related. The new winds of "glasnost" seem not to have reached Tallinn.
The approval, in my estimation, was denied on a technicality. I have asked the Kesas to appeal the decision, and have rescheduled their arrival in New York on AEROFLOT Flight Number SU 031, October 5th.
As always, the Kesas had made elaborate plans for my stay in Tallinn, and the first evening we went to a nightclub. The food was excellent, and the entertainment included a floor show with dancing by beautiful young bare-breasted women. I found the program tastefully done - a bit more discreet than those I've seen in Paris - but Vello was disturbed. It was a bit risqué for someone brought up in the pristine Soviet society. Before "glasnost" such a performance would have been considered Western cultural decadence.
I made contact with Tallinn fashion design leaders on behalf of a friend who plans to take a group of New York City dress designers there soon.
My time in Moscow was short this trip, but filled with good contacts. I first dropped in on my NOVOSTI friends to deliver the SPOTLIGHT article. My friend looked at the cover letter to the Soviet Embassy in Washington, and said, "Millard, next time you have something for us, send it by direct mail. Passing it through the official bureaucracy will delay it three months."
He looked it over and made arrangements for a photographic session in the afternoon for pictures to accompany the story.
My next contact was with Dr. Sergei Plekanov, who had been promoted to Deputy Director of the Soviet Institute of US and Canadian Studies. Sergei was under pressure for a departure to the States the next morning. Upon my return to the States I saw Sergei's participation in the Hodding Carter Show. I hope you were able to view that show. He, Dr. Arbatov and a number of Americans were members of the panel. It was a pleasure for my US friends to meet Sergei through that medium. Sergei is highly knowledgeable regarding the States, and in my estimation he is reasonable and measured in his approach to US/USSR matters. Sergei described my editorial as "most interesting!".
I had an unhurried lunch and afternoon with Elena, the IZVESTIA journalist and her husband, Igor, editor of the EDUCATION GAZETTE. Their top floor apartment overlooks the Moscow river, and, incidentally, the new US Embassy which has gained such notoriety in recent months.
It was Elena who had done the full page interview of my FRIENDSHIP BRIDGES for the celebrity page of the IZVESTIA weekly supplement. I learned that Elena had received a special award for its depth and perception, and the article had been given prominent display for a week in Moscow at IZVESTIA headquarters. Elena asked bow I liked it, and I had to confess that my neighbor in Delmar who served as my interpreter had died, and the article had not been translated.
Elena interpreted the extensive report on the spot. What a wonderful job she had done in drawing upon the TEN ROMEO NEWSLETTERs and our many, many contacts in Moscow to weave an interesting, in-depth story of Millard Harmon, Ambassador of Friendship without portfolio! It's action such as this by my Moscow friends which has provided a remarkable following for me in the USSR.
I spent Sunday evening with Andrew Sturua, my friend from the TV news program, TIME.
Andrew knew of one of the new, independent restaurants which have sprung up in the Moscow area under "perestroika", and we went there for a relaxed evening. The operation was located on the ground floor of a major housing complex and included three small rooms for serving, with space beyond my vision for cooking and preparation of the food. The decor was elegant, with beautiful draperies on the windows, plush rugs, and comfortable chairs.
It was good to visit with Andrew. The seven-course meal was sumptuous, and following pleasantries of family status, I moved to a number of questions that were on my agenda.
My concerns about Gorbachev's longevity as leader were raised. Andrew indicated the normal anticipated difficulties associated with the magnitude of his leader's task were being addressed step by step. The Ligachev situation represented an internal adjustment contributing strength. Production was down, but quality was improving. Gorbachev was secure.
Andrew asked about our presidential elections, and I expressed my feeling of it being a toss-up. I asked Andrew his preference.
"We here in Moscow, Millard, would be more comfortable if Bush were elected." I expressed surprise at this, suggesting Bush leadership might be similar to Reagan's, with its "evil empire" perception of the USSR and all that implies. His response was unexpected.
"We are able to deal with the Reagan administration because of its absolute predictability on any major issue. There are no surprises. Tensions were far higher with Garter. We never knew which side of a major issue the Carter Administration would support. This unpredictability raised the risk factor between East and West."
I mentioned that the mutual trust generated in my relationships with Soviet friends had resulted in my taking the first step toward an official responsibility with the next administration. Lack of trust between our government officials had contributed toward present tenseness. Perhaps the personal trust I had generated over 30 years could be used in official ways.
"In my estimation, Millard, that would be a big mistake! You would no longer be your 'own man', but would have to carry the 'official position' of your government. You may not realize how valuable we feel your 'Ambassador of Friendship without Portfolio' is to us. We would lose you in the role you have become so skillful in!" This caught me quite by surprise.
Space precludes sharing all that was said between two friends that night in tasteful surroundings, with excellent food and warm fellowship. But I did ask for a critique of the guest editorial I had shared with Andrew.
"An objective, balanced, hard-headed approach to the current East/West confrontation. As a matter of fact, it borders on the heroic." This was another surprise, and I asked why expressing my position, based upon experience, could be considered "heroic".
"Your 1958 visit to our country gave you a positive foundation to build upon. You came back to us in 1983 with an open mind and no bad expectations. The balanced approach in this editorial is not what we normally see from the US media. You will gain few American friends from this presentation, and may, in fact, have problems with some of your American colleagues."
I indicated I felt a groundswell of more openness in the States toward the USSR because of the increased perception everywhere of the risks associated with East/West confrontation. Rapprochement must be instituted, and I would lose no friends because of my editorial. I then turned to an enigma.
"Andrew, why was Rust not shot down when intercepted twice by Soviet Migs?"
"The Soviet Union, Millard, has gone through a long and dark period when human life was worth very little. But, under our new leadership, 'glasnost' and 'perestroika', we are returning to the sanctity of life. Once again an individual life is of high value, as it should always have been. Once the Migs were launched the way the mission was to end was entirely up to the individual pilots. They did not want to kill the pilot of a Cessna 172!"
It was growing late, but I had one last question. "How might we now leverage TEN ROMEO's FRIENDSHIP BRIDGES in your society?"
Andrew's response was immediate. "Could you be in Moscow on November 7th? With the new accent on peace and friendship I'd like a TV interview with you in Red Square during our celebration. We'll run some of your clips and you could speak of Gorbachev changes you have seen in our society." And so it was arranged.
A good meeting with Aeroflot developed increased understanding. That meeting will be reported as a part of the TEN ROMEO report to follow shortly.
This trip to Moscow was brief, but filled with warm contacts, four press conferences, and great satisfaction. In thinking back on those busy days, two perceptions come clearly to mind.
First, I was impressed with the universal good feelings generated by Secretary Shultz in Moscow during his preparatory trip for the Summit. Repeatedly, my Soviet friends had comments about his appearance on Moscow TV. "Warm" - "His sincerity comes through." - "He is an honest man who is working toward a safer world." - and one comment which really surprised me, "If I were an American, I would vote for Secretary Shultz as president!".
Secondly, POLAROID's generosity allowed me to leave nearly 100 prints in the USSR as gifts. As I have mentioned before, sponsorship rules have been changed drastically since my 1958 travels, but limited discretionary flexibility allows small, but much appreciated assistance from a number of my industrial friends. (Thanks Bill and Max!)
Before returning to the States I spent a few days in West Germany with my son Roger and his wife Sylvia, and also arranged the details for a lecture tour in West Germany in October the week before my Moscow program. I will talk with schools and flying clubs about TEN ROMEO's activities as a political instrument of detente.
* * * * * *
How satisfying it was to see the Summit evolve as it did. The warmth between Reagan and Gorbachev grew for all to see. I have stressed the warm feelings Soviets have toward Americans, and this feeling became obvious in viewing the President's reception in the streets of Moscow.
With "glasnost", the impact of Donahue, Posner, and other "heavy hitters" is opening the flood gates of interest, understanding, and communication between our two great nations. But there is still work for me to do.
In Moscow this fall I will pursue the possibility of a "fly-by" of a Mig-31 and F-16 at selected locations as mentioned in an earlier report. Such a symbolic gesture of East/West cooperation would not be lost upon a troubled world. Now may be the time for me to pursue my request of two years ago when I asked the Soviet government to lend me one of their preserved P-63s from WWII for ten years to fly in US Air Shows to remind us all of our former partnership.
The next major TEN ROMEO mission will be a FRIENDSHIP BRIDGE to Beijing, China, and planning for this trip is in process.
Warmest regards to all!
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