74. Editorial Note
On Friday, October 4, TASS announced that the Soviet Union had successfully launched an earth satellite. On October 7, in circular telegram 319 to 20 United States missions around the world, the Department of State requested for receipt not later than 3 p.m., October 9, any information that could be obtained concerning the local government’s reaction to the Soviet satellite launching, along with the mission’s appraisal of the probable political effects in the short run and in the longer term. (Department of State, Central Files, 761.56301/10–757) In circular telegram 324 to 46 other United States missions, October 8, the Department requested similar information to be received in Washington no later than October 20. Responses to these circular telegrams are also ibid., 761.56301.