To Our Readers:

April 1 was a landmark day in the history of The Christian Science Monitor. Dedication of a third major shortwave station of Herald Broadcasting at Cypress Creek, S.C., now makes available on virtually a global basis the entire news and information facilities of The Christian Science Monitor. The new station, WSHB, serves the entire Western Hemisphere, including Canada and Central and South America. The test signal has already been heard clearly by listeners in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.

The two other shortwave stations owned by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, are at Scotts Corners, Maine, serving Europe, the Middle East, and Africa; and on Saipan, serving the entire Pacific region. The three stations together constitute the most powerful privately owned shortwave network in the world. Besides providing general news, they will also broadcast ``The Herald of Christian Science'' on weekends.

The Monitor's expansion into shortwave broadcasting, as well as into domestic public radio, television, and a monthly magazine, all provide a service to a larger public. Each has its individual purpose within the Monitor's overall mission. Shortwave will be the main carrier of breaking news events around the world and will enable us to reach a global audience. It will also provide a source of unbiased news in many parts of the world where such news is not readily available.

Nearly half a century after World War II, the relationships of many nations to each other have undergone great change. Advances in communications and travel continue to shrink the physical world. Major social and economic problems are being seen more in their global context.

While the aims of Monitor reporting will continue to be relevance, integrity, and objectivity, our service to a wider audience will also highlight another aim the Monitor has long had: to see the affairs of mankind from the perspective of other cultures, and thus help build the mutual understanding that our planet must reach in the coming century.