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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY
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On the basis of resvonses received so far to a telegraphic query to certain major field posts and other information available, reaction in non-Communist areas to the

domestic United States debate on ending H~bomb tests apnears
to have been moderate.

News coverage, in most instances,

was widespread but not heavy. Interest in the issue seems to
have been divided between an interest, on the one hand, in the
actual subject of the debate and concern over the testing issue,
and, on the other, interest in the issue as an aspect of the
United States election. #ditorial comment was moderate in

volume and, except for the communist and left-wing vress,
generally restrained in tone. The news coverage was only
occasionally sensatio-al in tone - - and this more often in its
treatment of the issue as an element in United States election
develomments than in its treatment of testing and related
problens,
The Stevenson position commanded more suport and

sympathy among commentators than did lresident Eisenhow-r's
position,

While there was considerable sneculation on the role

the issue might play in affecting the results of the election, no
consene:S emerges clearly; there anpears to be a tendency to
discount the decisiveness of testing as an election issue,
The Dulganin-Uisenhower exchanie received in general
Sinilar coverage and here a stronger note of en reval of the
fresicent's course seems detectable,
Li-tle information is os yet available on Near

astern

end rar Eastern reaction, but in thore areas reaction sees
to be based on continuing concern over the effects of tests and
less on interest in the lv. election.
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ORY A SAPELLIGS
fhe possibility of a ban of nuclear veanons tests was

frequently discussed ty “Soviet commencators, /ccording to
loscow nropapardists, homb-test ban discvesions have now
become the center of attention in the U.5, election campairn.
4s in past comeents on this tonic, Soviet media indicated
that te test ban issve has been introduced into campaign

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oratory primarily because the Democrats have found it

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