Mr Holyoake Cheered By Inaugural Address

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 7

Mr Holyoake Cheered By Inaugural Address

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, January 24. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), in a statement today, said he was impressed and cheered by President Kennedy's inaugural address and also by the tone of his reply to Mr Khrushchev’s message of congratulations. “In this exchange of messages the leaders of the United States and Soviet Russia have placed on record their hope for a fundamental improvement in relations between their countries and in the world situation as a whole," Mr Holyoake said. "Since the second objective named is contingent upon the first, every thinking person will applaud the cordial nature of the first exchanges between Mr Kennedy and Mr Khrushchev. We can all hope that from this promising start the Great Powers will progress steadily toward a decisive summit meeting.

“It would be a mistake to expect too much too soon. I noted a cabled news item from Moscow on Saturday which stated that the Soviet Communist Party pledged itself to keep working for peaceful coexistence, but that it was Russia’s moral duty to aid people fighting against imperialist oppression. “Two things are clear so

long as this sort of news comes from Russia. One is that we have a long way to go to achieve world peace, and the other is that the Western nations must negotiate from a position of strength. “Therefore I welcome the strong affirmation in Mr Kennedy’s inaugural speech that America will So to any length to assure the survival and success of liberty,” Mr Holyoake said. ’ “From the events of the week-end we can find grounds for hope but not for expectation of decisive results in the very near future. “The first clear indication of the immediate prospects for progress toward world peace may come from the Russian response to the British proposals for a return of the international truce commission in Laos. “If East and West co-operate in bringing peace to Laos this could be the first step toward the ultimate goal. "Meantime we must temper our hope with patience,” the Prime Minister added.