DANGEROUS SPECULATION!
_The cagerness of the strategists of U.S, imperialism to ex= ploit the Sino-Soviet dispute for their own reactionary aims was underlined once again by fresh revelations made in Washington Octo-~ ber 1, According to Reuters, it was learned "authoritatively" that the U.S. government sent out feelers to Khrushchev last year "to draw up joint plans to prevent Communist China from developing a nuclear capability." .
"The U.S. bid for Soviet cooperation to thwart China!ts entry into the nuclear club was made. personally to Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev by Averell Harriman," The probing operation was oarried out by the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs when he was in Moscow to negotiate the partial nuclear-test-ban treaty in August 1963,
Harrimants success in negotiating the test-ban treaty apparently cnoouraged the millionaire diplomat to go further in seeking: collaboration against the Peoplets Republic of China,
Khrushchev, however, did not respond to the overtures, Ho “merely stated that ‘the Russians had ended their nuclear weapons assistanoe to Peking in 1959~60,"
Harriman suggested that the "development of China's nuclear capability might load to grave trouble in Moscow-Poking relations." However, Khrushchev “reportedly remained silent" to these insinua~. tions and Harriman did not press the matter,
Why these revelations at this time? Apparently Washington's strategists are making a new probe as to Moscow's possible attitude in the event the U, S, escalates the war in South Vietnam, Some — "top U.S, government experts," according to Reuters, believe that the Soviet leaders "might be happy to see China involved in local troubles" but would "put aside" the Sino-Soviet rift “if the destruction of the Chinese Communist regime was involved,'
A firm indication from the Soviet government of full support to the Peoplets Republic of China in any conflict with impcrialisn, local or otherwise, is needed to put a stop to dangerous speoulation of this kind in Washington, Let no one there believe they might got away with a gamble to spread the war in South Vietnam!
rom iste