It is a cold-war truism that any real break in the ice pack must come from the Kremlinand recent drips of thaw have raised hopes that Russia may actually be ready for the break. How realistic are such hopes? Part of the answer can be found in the history of past disarmament negotiations, atomic test-ban talks, and attempts to achieve peace in the world through the medium of summitry.
Disarmament: Attention now centers on an 18-nation conference, due to convene in Geneva on March 14, to discuss disarmament under United Nations sponsorship.
Throughout the 20th century civilization has looked toward and...