The United States, Britain and the Soviet Union today signed a partial nuclear test ban treaty they called “an important initial step toward the lessening of international tension and the strengthening of peace.”
The three nuclear powers announced after the signing of the historic agreement the treaty would be open for signatures by other powers in Washington, London and Moscow Aug. 8.
Secretary of State Dean Rusk, British Foreign Secretary Lord Home and Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromyko put their signatures on the historic document at 4:34 p.m. Moscow time.
Premier Khrushchev witnessed the signing.
“Our three governments,” said Rusk, “have today taken what all mankind must hope will be a first step on the road to a secure and peaceful world.”
Rusk warned that it would be impossible “for us to guarantee now what the significance of this act will be.”
This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.