FOREIGN RELATIONS: Spasibo & Farewell!

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"The most important and joyful impression of our trip," said Matskevich, "was our meetings with the average Americans. These meetings left an unblemished spot in our hearts." Matskevich was impressed, he said, by hybridization of corn, poultry and hogs, mechanization of small tasks on the farm, fattening of cattle on feed lots and home-economics teaching in land-grant colleges. He liked U.S. farm machinery so well that he hoped to place some orders right away; he had already sent one member of his delegation back down to Texas for some breeding stock of Santa Gertrudis cattle. "Sometimes there was a little too much lemonade, but otherwise it was fine . . ." Matskevich concluded about his trip. "We would be happy if our delegation forms the foundation for future exchanges and ties and lays the basis for understanding the future."-

Vladimir Matskevich wound up his visit to the U.S. in a surplus-goods store, where he bought a down hunting vest and suede hunting jacket to take back to chilly Russia. In there exuding humanity and good will to the end, one of the Russians commented: "He's a country man. He buys the clothes for hunting."

-Among the requests for exchange visits on file at the State Department: the Boston Symphony Orchestra and a company of Porgy and Bess want to tour Russia; the National Arts Foundation wants to exchange exhibitions of paintings by 100 contemporary artists; a homebuilding association wants to demonstrate U.S. model homes in Moscow, and a delegation of U.S. housewives wants to show Russian ladies how to bake cakes. The town of Prescott, Ariz, wants to import a team of Cossacks to ride in its anniversary celebration.

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