Today's Columns The Lithuanian political crisis is delaying plans for Soviet economic reforms, but President Gorbachev can no longer postpone the decisions that are needed.

Much of the Lithuanian crisis, for example, has lacked balanced coverage, and stories on the ethnic violence in the southern republics are also usually skimpy.

Even if it does not explode into violence, they do not want the Lithuanian crisis to take center stage in East-West relations.

Mr. Nunn, the Georgia Democrat who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the Lithuanian crisis has illuminated a critical aspect of the new Soviet-American relationship.

Mr. Bush's letter, which was sent late Thursday, was the first direct communication between the two leaders since the Lithuanian crisis broke out earlier this month.

Mr. Katz said the Lithuanian crisis was not discussed during the meeting.

But Mr. Bush said the Lithuanian crisis had not prompted him to reassess his positive opinion of Mr. Gorbachev.

The officials said that Mr. Gorbachev had broken from his usual pattern of behavior in the Lithuanian crisis.

In addition, 39 percent said they approved of Mr. Bush's handling of the Lithuanian crisis and 19 percent said they disapproved.

Diplomats here said his remarks suggested that he was not prepared to let the Lithuanian crisis interfere with developing contacts with Moscow, at least not as long as the dispute remains nonviolent.