French Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville sat deep in thought, his wavy white head bowed over the text of the speech he was about to deliver to the United Nations General Assembly. Behind him, Russian U.N. Representative Nikolai Fedorenko and his French opposite number, Roger Sey-doux, were engaged in eager conversation. As Couve read on, the two men behind him suddenly smiled and raised their hands—thumb to forefinger—in the universal gesture of happy agreement. Then Couve rose to demand that the U.S. make a "new move" to end the war in Viet Nam.
Instantly, dove hearts fluttered and...