THE TESTIMONY OF MOXSIEUR HERRIOT	229
by the central authority. The report sa}^: "Comrade Vassi-
Ienko5 the President of the District Executive Committee,
gave a luncheon in honour of the guests." The report is silent
as to the menu of the lunch; but Ukrainian cooking has a good
reputation, and it may be assumed that during his fortnight
in Russia M. Herriot was one of the best-fed people in the
country. No unpleasant interludes marred the feast, and none
of the guests was reminded that during the summer thousands
of innocent people had perished in that ancient metropolis.
First-hand reports from foreign observers tell how in the
summer of 1933 starving persons were collapsing in the
streets of Kiev, and were often buried before they died. The
common graves at Kiev speak eloquently of the tragedy which
visited that city, like Kharkov, Odessa, Rostov and many
other towns during the months preceding the 1933 harvest.
But a climax awaited Ai. Herriot after the lunch. The Soviet
press reports: "During the afternoon the visitors went for a
pleasure cruise on the Dnieper in the steamer Kalinin" Only
those who know Kiev can appreciate the delightful impression
given by a steamer trip on the Dnieper near the city; the view
of Kiev itself, of the high banks and of the famous Kievo-
Pecherskaya Lavra monastery is unforgettable. Nor is it easy
to imagine a better way in which M, Herriot and his suite
could have spent the rest of their brief visit. It is hardly sur-
prisiag that the visitors were impressed and put into the right
mood to appreciate the demonstrations by the populace which
followed. Returning, they entered their cars and visited the
sights of the city. "During the drive through the town/' the
Soviet press reports, "the population surrounded Herriofs
car and expressed their sympathy by applause. Herriot was
pleased by this unexpected and spontaneous enthusiasm." His
inspection at Kiev was ended and his judgment formed. Before
the evening he went to the station*
The hour had now come to give to the press a summary of
the results of his studies and his competent judgment as