p I gladly accepted the invitation to visit the German Democratic Republic. I was in Germany once, in 1930, more than thirty years ago. I was on my way to Gorky in Sorrento but I never 121 got there because the Italian authorities refused to give me an entrance visa. While waiting for this visa, I made a tour of Germany.

p In the German Democratic Republic I shall see rejuvenated towns and villages, I shall meet workers and peasants. It goes without saying that I shall meet and speak with old and young German writers whose work I try to follow as closely as possible. In one of the northern districts of the GDR there is a co-operative which has done me the honour of taking my name. I regularly correspond with the members of this co-operative and I shall try to go and visit them to see how they are getting on.

p I am very sorry that I shall not be able to attend the Shevchenko celebrations in the Ukraine. I beg my Ukrainian friends to accept my very best wishes of successes, good health and happiness.

1964