SOVIET AND U.S.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28475, 3 January 1958, Page 7

SOVIET AND U.S.

Cordial Exchange Of Greetings (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) GETTYSBURG. January I. President Eisenhower expressed the hope today that the New Year would bring a firmer and better understanding between the citizens of the Soviet Union and I other nations and gave an assur-| ance that the Government of thei United States would extend every effort to that end. Mr Eisenhower was replying T o a New Year’s message of greeting from leaders of the Soviet Union. Mr Eisenhower’s message, addressed to the Soviet President. Marshal Voroshilov, said: “On behalf of the American people, I reciprocate the greeting of yourself, Prime Minister Bulganin and Mr Khrushchev. 1 hope that the peoples of the Soviet Union throughout the coming year may enjoy peace and those fundamentals of a more abundant life which are the aspirations of all mankind. “I earnestly trust that the New Year will bring a firmer and better understanding between the citizens of the*Soviet Union, the American people and those of other nations.

“You may be assured that the Government of the United States will extend every effort to that end.”

The Russian message said: “On the eve of the New Year, we ask you, Mr President, to accept personally and to transmit to the people of the United States of America best wishes from the peoples of the Soviet Union and from us personally.

“We express the hope that the forthcoming year will be a year of strengthening of friendship and co-operation between the peoples of the Soviet Union and of the United States of America, a year when the great principles of peaceful co-existence, receiving ever greater international recognition, will become the basis of mutual relations between our states.

“Dedicating our activities to the attainment of this noble goal, we wish to express our firm conviction that in the united strength of our states, together with other countries, there is the possibility to realise the great, ardent dream of humanity—to create a firm peace on earth, to create such conditions under which people would live in freedom from fear for their future, for the future of coming generations.”

Mr Eisenhower’s message went to the Russians by the same commercial cable facilities through which the New Year's greetings from the Soviet leaders reached Gettysburg—that is, the greetings were exchanged on a persona) basis and not through diplomatic channels