Moscow — Vatican letters

BIRTHDAY NOTES PUBLISHED
THE fell texts of Mr. Khrushchev's birthday message to Pope John and of the Holy Father's reply have now been made public. The message from Mr. Khrushchev read: In the name of N. S. Khrushchev to His Holiness Pope John XXIII, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, I am asked to communicate congratulations and sincere best wishes for your good health and the success of your noble aspirations to contribute to the strengthening and the consolidation of peace on earth, and to the solution of international problems by way of frank talks."
The message came from the Russian Ambassador to Italy, who gave it to the Papal Nuncio to Italy. There are no diplomatic relations between Russia and the Vatican.
Pope John's reply stated: "His Hdliness Pope John XXIII thanks you for the greetings and expresses; for his part, to the Russian people also, best wishes for the strengthening and consolidation of universal peace through the happy understanding of human brotherhood. To this end he raises fervent prayers."
The reply was conveyed by the Papal Nuncio to the Ambassador. Vatican officials have warned against overestimating the importance of the exchange of messages of a kind in which. they said, "Mr. Khnishchev is rather lavish".