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The flu situation developed diplomatic side effects when the U.S. Sixth Fleet canceled, ''with great reluctance," a naval demonstration off the Spanish coast. Reason: to keep Asian flu from turning into Spanish grippe. Explained the U.S. embassy in Madrid: several cases had appeared on U.S. ships, and since no Asian flu has been reported in Spain so far, "it was felt it would be better to cancel the operation than risk the possible exposure of Spanish observers."
In a less amiable mood were Pennsylvania's Veterans of Foreign Wars, whose commander, William J. Tepsix, sent a letter to the U.N.'s Dag Hammarskjold demanding an investigation of the flu's origin. Commander Tepsix' high-fevered suspicion: that "the germs came from Red China or the Soviet Union or both, on airborne carriers released as biological adventures . . ."