In considering this question. it should be noted first that the President himself has set the tone of a new American posture toward Chinafor in his state of the world report on February 25 he referred repeatedly to "the Peoples Republic of China." It is a small step. but as Chou Enlai noted a few days later: Even the United States finally has come to refer to the Peoples Republic of China by its proper name. The President has gone further. and has expressed to visitors his personal desire to visit Chinaor at minimum to take the necessary steps so that his and our children can come to know that vast country firsthand. The recent decision to allow visas to Americans wanting to visit China is a good step in this direction. In order to do these things. both China and the United States will need to modify somewhat the habits and attitudes of the past 20 years of cold war confrontation. As Americans. as citizens of the worlds most powerful nation. we can take the first steps. for as Winston Churchill said many years ago. it is the powerful who can afford to be magnanimous.