Vodka and Caviar Diplomacy

An individual gilded age, Versailles pattern caviar spade by Gorham, a large caviar serving spoon in French sterling and horn, and an individual caviar spoon made of horn, circa 1910. – Most caviar servers were, and are still, made of horn or mother of pearl, so that the salt in the caviar does not corrode the silver.

Two Brands of Diplomacy 

Vodka or Lemonade?

When the Russians prepared for the “summit” conference at Geneva they sent ahead their own foods, an army of cooks and wine tasters and two planeloads of vodka and caviar. Obviously they were planning to live high and entertain higher.

When 12 touring Russian farmers visited a typical Iowa farm last week, they strolled down rows of tall corn in the hot sun and crawled through a barbed wire fence to watch a hay-baler.

The delegation carefully inspected the farm and took a good look at the 121 spring pigs and 12 cows, the 48 heifers and 200 pullets.

When the Russians had seen the farm they were invited to rest beneath the shade trees in the farmyard. Mrs. Richard Alleman, the wife of the owner, had a big pitcher of lemonade ready and they all sat in the shade and drank their fill.

Everybody seemed satisfied that international relations had made some progress toward peace down on the lowa farm.

It makes you wonder which is the best diplomacy the vodka or the lemonade variety. – Page of Editorials and Opinions, Opinion Editor, Tuesday, July 26, 1955

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