Troops, Trade and Diplomacy.

May 1971 could go down in the history of diplomacy as one of those critical months when a series of events sets in train developments that are to affect nations for years to come. A "breakthrough" at the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), a political agreement on Britain's admission to the European community; a Soviet offer to talk about troop reductions in Europe, and a U.S. Senate vote on the withdrawal of half the U.S. troops in Europe. It is tempting to dwell on U.S. President Richard M. Nixon's announcement about developments at the SALT talks in Vienna, but the changes now possible in Europe are equally important. Under way is a major redefinition of Atlantic politics, and the relating of these politics to East-West understanding. None of this should be surprising; the trend of events had been clear for some time, if only a number of dilemmas could be resolved.