Question

Before I left Washington, I received many heartfelt letters and telegrams asking me to carry here a simple message, perhaps, but also some of the most important business of this summit: it is a message of peace and good will and hope for a growing friendship and closeness between our two peoples. What does this sentence suggest about the previous relationship between the two countries?

a. They were not on good terms.
b. They were not able to communicate.
c. They had been involved in a revolution.
d. They had helped each other for many years.

Answer 1

The sentence suggests there was hope for improved relations and a growing friendship between the two nations, implying previous tensions or less friendly interactions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sentence suggests that there was a growing desire for peace and improved relations between the two countries, likely indicating that there had been previous tensions or less friendly relations. When stating there is hope for a 'growing friendship and closeness between our two peoples,' it implies that previously, the relationship may not have been as close or amicable as desired. This is supported by the fact that after events like the War of 1812 and during periods of détente in the Cold War, the United States and other countries such as Great Britain, Japan, and the Soviet Union, sought to repair and improve their diplomatic relations, often after periods of conflict or tension.