White House quietly canvassing Capitol Hill to determine attitudes toward government seizure of the railroads should crippling strike occur early next year…. The reason there’s been no open State Department protest over repeated violations of Laos “neutrality” status is fear of voter reaction on top of Berlin, Cuba crises. … Europe buzzes with rumor that Moscow will trade two-year moratorium on Berlin issue for U.S. evacuation of Guantanamo…. August 15 was the day the U.S. Government debt surpassed the $300 billion mark.
East German government has struck new medal to honor border guards who distinguish themselves along the Wall. … The “vopos” already receive 75 marks for each would-be-refugee killed or wounded. … One demoralized French Foreign Legion contingent of 1,700 men, transferred from Algeria to Corsica, reports between 100 and 200 attempted desertions since early July. … Sign of economic paralysis in Algeria: Income from gas and electrical services in July 1961 was 2,150 million old francs; in July 1962, it was 600 million. … Ghanaian Assembly last week voted life term for Nkrumah; also legalized one-party government. … On August 29, dissident Egyptian army officers set up a National Government of Liberation in Damascus.
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