World: Flowers for Tanks

Two weeks ago, the intersection at Berlin's "Checkpoint Charlie" was taut with tension as the U.S.—on order from General Lucius Clay, President Kennedy's representative in West Berlin—sent armed convoys across the border to escort civilian-dressed military personnel into the Russian sector to demonstrate U.S. right of access. But last week, on direct orders from the State Department, the probes were called off. At the same time, Washington stopped U.S. patrols along the 110-mile Autobahn that links West Germany with the divided city. Reason: Secretary of State Dean Rusk was anxious to shift the Berlin issue away from border squabbles to...

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