A headline for June 21, 1963, read:


                          WASHINGTON-MOSCOW HOT LINE
                                    T0 OPEN IN 60 DAYS

          The Times  of London Service, Geneva:

     The agreement to establish a direct communication link 
     between Washington and Moscow for emergencies was 
     signed here yesterday by Charles Stelle of the United States 
     and Semyon Tsarapkin of the Soviet Union. . . .
     The link, known as the hot line, will be opened within sixty 
     days, according to U.S. officials. It will make use of leased 
     commercial circuits, one cable and the other wireless, using 
     teleprinter equipment.