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| 1961, Jan. 31 |
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| Dirk U. Stikker of the Netherlands succeeded Paul-Henri Spaak as secretary general of NATO. | 1 |
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| April–May |
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| Recall of Soviet technicians from Albania and termination of all aid to that country, in response to Albania's support of the Chinese position. | 2 |
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| July 25 |
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| U.S. president John F. Kennedy spoke on U.S. preparedness in the Berlin crisis (See July 17). | 3 |
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| Aug. 10 |
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| The British government formally applied for membership in the Common Market after the House of Commons, by a vote of 313–5, approved the move (Aug. 3). | 4 |
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| Oct. 27 |
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| At the 22nd Congress of the Soviet Communist Party, Khrushchev abused the Albanians and called for the ouster of Prime Minister Hoxha and Interior Minister Shehu (See 1954, July). | 5 |
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| Nov. 7 |
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| Premier Khrushchev declared his willingness to postpone a settlement of the Berlin issue. | 6 |
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| Dec. 7 |
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| Agreement between the Common Market members to admit 18 African states as “associates.” | 7 |
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