Last-ditch Soviet Effort Fails

SOVIET President Mikhail Gorbachev appeared on national television to address the population on the outbreak of war, Daniel Sneider writes from Moscow. Mr. Gorbachev revealed that he was called an hour before the start of war by US Secretary of State James Baker III. ``I immediately contacted President George Bush with a proposal to take further steps through direct contact with President Hussein,'' he said. Simultaneously, the Soviet ambassador in Iraq informed Saddam of the appeal to Mr. Bush. But the effort failed, he said. The Soviet Union has supported the anti-Iraq coalition, but does not intend to commit forces.