Khrushchev With The Capitalists

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29004, 19 September 1959, Page 13

Khrushchev With The Capitalists

(NZ Press Association —Copyright)

(Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 18. Last night Mr Khrushchev threatened to ‘ walk out on a dinner with American businessmen who protested that he was not answering a question. “I’m an old sparrow, so to say, and you can’t muddle me with your cries,” he told members of the New York Economic Club. “You do not have to listen to me if you do not want to, but you must not interrupt me. If you have no desire to listen I will go.”

Mr Khrushchev had been asked why Russia would not allow free distribution of newspapers and periodicals and why it jammed United States broadcasts to the Soviet Union and censored United States journalists’ reports back to the United States. Mr Khrushchev received an even cooler reception in New York yesterday than he had in Washington two days ago. Thousands of silent New Yorkers lined the route through the city from the Pennsylvania railway station as his cavalcade drove first to the WaldorfAstoria Hotel—where he will stay during his two days in New York—and then to the Commodore Hotel for a luncheon given by the Mayor (Mr Robert F. Wagner).

pleased over this step taken by the President. But greatness of man is measured by his ability to understand and see and look further ahead . . it is man’s greatness to see today future prospects, and see that these prospects are clear before his nation.” “Here 1 Am” “I realise that you were prompted in inviting me also by a desire to see what sort of a man this' Khrushchev is, to see what he is like," he said. "Well, here I am.” There was prolonged laughter and applause. “I was never a diplomat,” he said. “Therefore diplomatic language is alien to me. Although I fully realise that it is necessary for trying to make progress between States. Therefore I want to speak my mind. “I would like to introduce clarity into this matter, otherwise you might think Khrushchev is being converted to the capitalistic faith,” he said. “Because both Mr Lodge and Mr Wagner spoke out in defence of your system, the question may arise of what I am—is it that when I am with Communists J applaud Communists and when I am with the representatives of capitalism, I applaud them? People will think this is no politician; this is a weather vane.” Mr Khrushchev said: “There is no need for me to exert any effort to try and make Communists out of you. This would evidently be a waste of effort. “I wanted to save my energy for useful business (laughter) and also if any of you have sincere hopes that I might go over to the camp of capitalism, that, too, is a hopeless thought.” (More laughter.) “I want to concentrate not on what disunites us but what, on the contrary, are the major points that unite us. 1 know my place and I know where I am. My attitude towards you is one of esteem as towards the representatives of workers, intellectuals, statesmen and public figures. . . . “The question of State and social system prevailing in this or that country is one to be solved by each nation in its own respective country. “If you like capitalism, and I

The United States permanent representative to the United Nations (Mr Henry Cabot Lodge) spqke before Mr Khrushchev at the luncheon. Mr Khrushchev said: “I have always esteemed your President highly, and do this to an even greater degree now because to have invited me to America needed a lot of wisdom and willpower, and the understanding to place relations between our two countries on a sound basis.

“I am aware that some politicians in this country are dis-

am sure you do, then God be with you. “Continue in your efforts but take care, a new system has emerged, a system that has started to tread on your heels and if at any time you start lagging behind we will surpass you. So let us compete peacefully and let the people be the judges of which system provides greater possibilities. Admiration For America “With admiration we look upon America, which freed herself from colonial domination and marched ahead to develop as the mightiest nation as regards the development of its economy. “You have the highest standard in the world, you are the richest and most powerful country—when I speak of powerful I want to clarify—l mean among the capitalist countries." (Laughter.) Mr Khrushchev chatted informally with some of America*! richest capitalists at the reception given by Mr Averill Harriman, Governor of New York State and former Ambassador to the Soviet Union, who recently visited Mr Khrushchev in Moscow. Mr Harry Truman declined an invitation to this function.