Red China: Start of the Chain

As the fallout from Peking's nuclear firecracker wafted toward the West, the political chain reaction had only begun. Taking full propaganda advantage of its feat, Red China unctuously dispatched messages to heads of state, among them President Johnson, urging a summit conference to discuss nuclear disarmament. U.N. Secretary-General U Thant took up the call, suggested a meeting perhaps next year. The U.S. State Department had already rejected Red China's ploy, calling it "a sucker proposal" since it made no mention of inspection. If the Chinese are really concerned about all this, said the U.S., they can always sign the...

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