Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-14

War, dedicated to the cause of peace.
This week the representatives of Fidac-the
Federation Interalliee des Anciens Combattsnts
meet in Washington to renew the pledges of
mutual understanding among the men who
fought side by side in the war to end all wars.
Statesmen, noblemen and military leaders Of
nine European nations and the United States
will gather here to discuss ways of keeping alive
the friendships formed on the battlehelds.
This will be the eleventh annual congress of
Fidac and the second to be held in the United
States. Eight years ago the congress met in
New Orleans, and it was at this session that the
foundation laid for the marvellous growth
of the organization.
In New Orleans the representatives of the
ex-service men of ten Allied nations signed
the famous Fidac Peace Charter sections of
which since have been written into almost
every international peace and arbitration treaty
drafted and approved. 1t antedated the
Kellogg BRAND treaty outlawing war by six
years. yet it included most of the principles
advanced by this covenant 1t was in New
Orleans that the constitution of the Fidac as
it stands today was adopted with the follow
ing foreword:
The principal object OF the Fidac is to
maintain. foster and develop that spirit of
comradeship which manifested itself on the
battlefields of the World War and to use that
comradeship in the cause of peace Fidac
stands aloof from all political parties or Sec
tartan denominations. Its constitution is as
democratic as the constitutions of its COM
ponent members. 1t supports the governments
OF its constituent countries and is determined
to help those governments in any way that lies
within its power to see that in so far as pos
s1ble, justice is meted out to the war disabled,
the widows and orphans, to help in the main
tenance of law and order and generally TO assist
in obtaining as full a realization as may be
possible OF the results of the victory achieved
IN common
THAT Hubert Aubert's idea-to insure
peace in the world by maintaining it among
the Allies. 1t was outgrowth of the French
Union Rationale DIES Combattants 1t was a
realization that the peace of the world could
be in no safer hands than in those of the men
who made such great sacrifices that it be won
On July 4, 1920 the French ex-service men
finally secured liaison with their British Italian
and Belgian comrades in arms. On the morn
ing OF July came this cablegram of acceptance
from American Legion headquarters in In
dianapolis:
In order that Our efforts may lead to this
fraternity of peoples so indispensable in our
days it depends u.s. ex-service men of the
World War, to meet and understand each other
and when necessary to speak frankly. looking
into each others eyes"
Subsequently those nations that arose
Phoenixlike from the ashes of the war
Poland Czechoslovakia and Jugoslavia-joined
Fidac and, with the addition of Portugal the
federation was complete. But 1t was not until
the New orleans congress that the dreams of
the moving spirits of Ffdac was finally incor-
porated into a charter.
Gradually group after group became AFFILIATED
with Fidac until today it numbers with its
wcmens auxiliary organized six years ago, los
associations. Most of these associations are
in Europe, Of course the American Legion and
the Legion Auxiliary being the sole constituent
members Of this country. However, America
through the Legion has always played prom
inent part in the ccunses of Ffdac, even
though much of the important work that the
federation is doing is far removed from the
American scene.
GEL. John j. Pershing. commander of the
"A. E. f., has expressed himself thus of the aims
of F1dac:
'Tlie associations growing out of unselflsh
service and common sacrifice in the World
War have naturally led to concerted action
the part Of the governments and the peoples
of the allied nations TO secure permanent peace
for mankind. The constant endeavors of the
veterans TO this end have given encouragement
and support to statesmen the. world over.