Vienna, December 11, 1935.
 
 
Dear Mr. President:
 
 
I am deeply appreciative of your cordial note of Novemeber 27,
extending to Mrs. Messersmith and myself and to the officers and
employees of our Government in Austria your best wishes for Christmas
and the New Year.  I am particuarly appreciative of the generous words
which you use concerning our endeavors to keep you informed of
developments in this part of the world in these difficult days.
 
 
We all of us here realize the extraordinary burder which you are
carrying, and are filled with admiration of the courage, vision, and
wisdom with which you are carrying out the heavy responsibilities of
your high office.  The results of these wise efforts are already
apparent in the increasingly better situation in our own country, and
our wisely directed foreign poliy has added to our prestige abroad.  We
all feel it a great privelage to be serving our Goverment under your
wise guidance and stimulus, and are deeply appreciative of the generous
support of and interest in the Foreign Service and its personnel which
you have so definitely shown.
 
 
I had planned to make a brief trip home before the end of this year and
to have the privelage of seeing you.  I deemed it advisable, however,
in view of the situation over here to postpone my trip home until the
spring when I look forward with great pleasure to seeing you again.
 
 
May I on behalf of Mrs. Messersmith and myself and of the officers and
employees of our Government here and their families, offer to you and
Mrs. Roosevelt our heartfelt wishes for a happy Christmas season and
for a New Year filled with good things.
 
 
Believe me,
 
 
Very respectfully yours,
 
 
G. Messersmith
 
 
The President
 
The White House,
 
Washington, D.C.