Gongs clanged and drums rumbled. Chief of State Liu Shao-chi and Premier Chou En-lai were on hand at the airport. On the trip into the city, a roaring crowd of half a million (said the Red radio) tossed flower petals. Lampposts were festooned with bunting, and at Peking's Gate of Heavenly Peace colored balloons floated skyward trailing slogans of greetings. It was just about the biggest and gaudiest welcome Peking had organized for any visitor everincluding the 1959 one for Nikita Khrushchev.
The object of this lavish enthusiasm was Sékou Touré, 38, the neutralist President of an obscure little West...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
