Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-06-04

dents. And whatever we
CHANGED to talk about, we al
ways came around to USSR-
USA relations and the coming
Vienna meeting.
1t is no exaggeration when I
say that the American people
for the most part want to have
peaceful and amicable relations
with the Soviet people. Ameri-
cas- interest in the Soviet
Union today is greater than
ever. During their 3-week stay
in the United States the mem
berS Of the Soviet journalists
delegation have had to answer
thousands Of the most varied
questions about our country in
talks in the streets, in T'V ap-
pearances and radio interviews.
I believe the American pub
lie has never realized so clearly
as now that life itself is calling
for better understanding be-
tween the Soviet Union and the
United States in the interests
Of world peace. That Is why the
broad sections Of the popula-
ton Of America are so heartily
acclaiming the coming Vienna
parley.
What does President Ken
nedy himself think of the meet
ing in Vienna? We were able
to find that out when we met
him in the White House on the
morning of May %.
The President received us in
his office. After shaking hands
with us he said: IT am happy
to see you here in America.
We want to have good rela-
tons with the Soviet Union,
whose peoples we hold in re-
spect."
What results do you expect
from the Vienna parley?" we
asked.
IT am looking forward with
hope to my meeting WITH Pre-
mier Khrushchev," the Presi-
dent replied. II think that not
only better understanding be-
tween the head of the Soviet
government and myself but also
understanding between our two
countries depend on it. We are
living in a very difficult time
OF the twentieth century. We
have gone through a lot. All
the more reason, therefore, for
necessarily having close con-
facts between the leaders of
the great powers and ties be-
tween their peoples"
Our people are quite sure Of
that" we remarked.
"And so are We" the Presi-
dent noted. IT am sure that still
much more should be DONE"
The President then showed
us the White House collection
of paintings. Among them is a
painting by Aivazovsky. This
fact reflects the friendly re-
lations between the American
and Russian peoples in the past
century.
"As for this painting" the
President said, pointing to an
other, you can see a burning
ship during a battle against |
the English which we won.
When Prime Minister Mac
milan was here, he told me,
however, that he would send
me paintings of a different
kind :"
1nanKlng the President for
the talk, we left the White
House and went to the Capitol
where we were to meet Senator
Mansfield, Democratic leader.
He received us in his office
and, talking about the forth
coming meeting between Khru-
shchev and Kennedy in Vienna,
said that the American people
hoped the results of the meet
ing would be favorable.
Value Of Meeting
1t was not expected that any
serious or final solutions of the
problems would be achieved,
but the hope was expressed that
President Kennedy and Premier
Khrushchev would meet in
Vienna not for the purpose of
automatically saying mo" to
each other, but for the purpose
of saying perhaps" and at
times even "yes." They should
use their authority and influ-
ence not to aggravate differ
ences but to reach agreement
on some of the difficult issues
facing the two countries, to
eradicate the so-called cold war
that affects not only the USSR
and the United States but all
the peoples on all continents,
whether they realize it or not.
However, not only such opin-
ions are voiced in Washington.
We have become convinced that
there are quite influential cir
cles that, overly or otherwise,
come out against the meeting
in Vienna. against improvement
Of Soviet-American relations.
Perhaps it is not worthwhile to
exaggerate the political weight
of these forces, but on the