Diplomacy: Listening to the Allies

Bush is off to Europe amid hints that the U.S. missile stance is softening

"Short of the President's trip abroad, it is the most important mission undertaken by this Administration." That, in the slightly exaggerated words of a Reagan Administration insider last week, seemed to sum up the sense of anticipation in some quarters surrounding Vice President George Bush's journey to Europe. After weeks of growing anxiety among the Western allies, caused by the hard U.S. line in negotiations with the Soviets over intermediate-range missiles, a long-planned vice presidential trip suddenly became...

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