The Press: French Leave

Nothing is more frustrating at a press conference than an official who refuses to talk—unless it is newsmen who refuse to listen. During his visit to Cambodia last week, France's Foreign Minister Christian Pineau met with Cambodian newsmen, but refused to talk to foreign correspondents.* As a sop, Pineau set up a conference for U.S., British, Chinese and other foreign newsmen with Quai d'Orsay Asia Bureau Chief Pierre Millet. Simmering, the shunned newsmen waited until Millet entered the door, then stalked out. The only stay-behinds: Anatoly Kurov of Moscow's New Times and Russian Press Attaché Alexander Kongratiev.