Foreign Relations: Of Hope & Skepticism

Prudent minds have as a natural gift one safeguard which is the common possession of all, and this applies especially to the dealings of democracies with dictatorships. What is this safeguard? Skepticism. This you must preserve, this you must retain.

—Demosthenes

Eight years ago, there was "the spirit of Geneva." Four years ago, it was "the spirit of Camp David." Last week, as if some quadrennial cold war cycle were reasserting itself, the air hummed once again with talk of a hopeful new turn in East-West relations. As U.S., British and Soviet negotiators met in Moscow to discuss a limited nuclear...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!