Capitalists and Comrades Mix at Moscow Bash

It may have been one of the most diverse guest lists in Kremlin history when Mikhail S. Gorbachev threw a party Monday for delegates to a Moscow peace forum.

For starters, the leader of the atheistic Soviet state was surrounded by more than 200 religious leaders in a variety of black, white and saffron robes.

There were plenty of capitalists to go with the resident Communists. Also in attendance were scientists and film stars, dedicated doctors and writers with lots of ego. In all, invitations to the forum were sent to individuals in 80 countries.

Sakharov Present

For old Moscow hands, the presence of dissident physicist Andrei D. Sakharov at the Kremlin reception was the most surprising. Less than two months ago, Sakharov was in lonely exile in the industrial city of Gorky. Thanks to Gorbachev, however, he was freed, allowed to return to Moscow and take part in the peace forum.

Sakharov was besieged for autographs in the morning session and overwhelmed by admirers at the reception; he seemed to love every minute of it.

Gorbachev, who reportedly wanted a diversified group of delegates, obviously enjoyed the role of host. He worked his way around the buffet tables, which were loaded with caviar and smoked salmon, to shake hands like a Midwestern politician at his own fund-raiser.

He chatted with Yoko Ono, the diminutive widow of Beatle John Lennon, rubbed shoulders with the mayor of Lawrence, Kan., and greeted millionaire industrialist Armand Hammer.

Actor Kris Kristofferson, a star of the Kremlin-denounced American television mini-series “Amerika,” had only a bit part in the Moscow production, applauding enthusiastically during Gorbachev’s remarks to the delegates.

Writers Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer, both admirers of Gorbachev’s audacity in promoting change in Soviet life, praised the session despite their common dislike of “abstract nouns,” they said.

“I am intrigued by glasnost, “ Mailer told a reporter, quoting the term Gorbachev has used in calling for greater openness in Soviet governmental affairs.

Former anti-war activist Daniel Ellsberg, “Megatrends” author John Nesbitt, actor Gregory Peck and Robert V. Roosa, a Wall Street investment banker, were also there.

The Kremlin guests crossed generations. Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of the late President Dwight D. Eisenhower, had a long talk with Andrei A. Gromyko, the 75-year-old Soviet president. “It was quite a thrill,” she said.

Some of the Americans in attendance felt that Moscow was “in” this year now that the relatively youthful (55) and relatively suave Gorbachev was making waves in the world and at home.

Now that Sakharov is no longer in exile, one of the reasons for not accepting a Kremlin invitation has been removed, an American participant said.

“This season it’s Moscow that’s the hot ticket and not Paris or New York,” said one American delegate who asked not to be quoted by name.

Poetry Readings

Soviet poets Yevgeny Yevtushenko and Andrei Voznesensky, who gave readings during the three-day meeting, were prominent at the party. So were Anatoly F. Dobrynin, former Soviet ambassador to Washington, who is now a top Kremlin adviser, and Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze.

Gorbachev’s wife, Raisa, was very visible in a bright red jacket. The usually staid official news agency, Tass, admired Italian actress Claudia Cardinale, describing her as “this elegant woman . . . with boundless energy . . . no less popular in Moscow than in Italy.”

Albert Sabin, inventor of a polio vaccine, took part in the medical panel. John Kenneth Galbraith, the economist and former U.S. ambassador to India, towered over Gorbachev during a long conversation at the reception.

‘Big With This Crowd’

The party itself illustrated the “openness” that Gorbachev is advocating.

“He went over very big with this crowd,” said one satisfied American delegate.

Six of the nineteen members of the Politburo attended Gorbachev’s reception, according to Tass. The news agency said the Kremlin chief had a “lively exchange of views” with Petra Kelly of the West German Greens party, British actor Peter Ustinov and Donald Kendall, board chairman of Pepsico.

“The reception was held in a friendly atmosphere of ease and frankness,” Tass reported, which is Moscow jargon for one heckuva good party.