Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-26

Jo"fe~ Wv ~SS D-AOI
P, the Associated Press
Stephen Early, White House press
secretary, expressed the belief today
that when the few who have ques-
toned President Roosevelt's ap-
pointment of personal representa-
tive to the Vatican learn the facts
they will be satisfied
Mr.. Roosevelt announced Satur-
day snight that he had chosen
Myron c. Taylor. retired chairman
of United States Steel and present.
ly head Of the Intergovernmental
Refugee Committee, to go to Rome
in the interest of more closely CO.
ordinating efforts for world peace.
simultaneously the Chief Execu-
tive invited DR.. George A. Buttrick,
president of the Federal Council of
Churches of Christ in America, as
a Protestant leader, and Rabbi
Cyrus Adler, president of the Jew
ish Theological Seminary of Amer
lea, as a leader of the Jewish faith,
to confer with him here from time
to time" on the problems of peace.
Some Questioning.
Favorable responses to the Presi-
dents action in many quarters of
Government and organized religion
were tempered in some instances by
expressions of hope that Mr.. Roose-
welt was not working toward re-
establishment of formal diplomatic
relations with the Vatican. Such
formal relations were severed in
1867.
Among others, the Rev. Louis D.
Newton, Atlanta Baptist clergyman,
and Bishop Paul B. Kern of the
Methodist Church at Nashville.
Tenn, questioned the action chiefly
on that ground.
Mr.. Early. informally discussing
such questions, said Mr.. Roosevelt
had the constitutional right to ap-
point Mr.. Taylor and added that
he never had held and does not now
hold any intention of according Dip
lonatic recognition to the Vatican.
Reviewing the responses Mr..
Early said that of more than 400
kilograms received at the White
House not more than four might be
called critical"
Not Recognizing Vatican.
These four, he said, were writ
ten on the basis of a misunder-
standing of the Presidents plans
and motives in that they assumed
the United States was officially rec
ognizing the temporal status of the
Vatican"
That is not the case, he con-
tinued, recalling he had made a
similar statement Saturday when
the Presidents action was an
nounced.
Il am quite certain" he added,
with reference to the questioners,
that when they learn the facts they
will be satisfied"
Mr.. Early said Mr.. Taylor would
have the rank, but not the official
title, of an Ambassador, and would
be paid out of the State Depart
ment's general fund if he requested
any salary, which he has not yet
done
Like Davis Arrangement.
Mr. Taylor will take the post, Mr..
Early explained, on exactly the same
arrangement as that of Norman n.
Davis, who worked as an Ambassador
at large in Europe, first under Presi-
dent Hoover and later under Mr..
Roosevelt, until he was appointed
chairman of the American Red
Cross.
Mr.. Davis never drew any salary,
Mr.. Early said. although under the
law he could have been paid had
he requested it.
The secretary also said that the
President would have made similar
appointments to the Protestant and
Jewish faiths if they had had
central headquarters like that OF
the Catholic Church.
Referring to the letters the Chief
Executive sent DR.. Buttrick and
Rabbi Adler, Mr.. Early said the
President would see these church.
men ANY time they want to see
him"
The President holds himself
open to them here" Mr.. Early said,
lust as we hope the Vatican will
hold itself open to the man we send
there, Mr.. Taylor" Mr.. Early said.