49th State

Opening Parliament last week, Sweden's King Gustav, 88, was guilty of a slip of the tongue which caused the Soviet Minister's heart to miss a beat. Said the King (of Sweden's membership in the United Nations): "We have recently joined the United States. It is the fervent wish of our entire people that this new union will successfully complete its mission to affirm international collaboration and to assure peace."

In the diplomatic box, Russian Minister Ilya Chernichev's face registered surprise, then realization, then smiling relief.

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