Evening star., 1939-05-09
Roosevelt Halls
Collaboration Of
Military Medicine
Also Tokes Note
Of AItruistic Spirit in
international ConcIuve

With the international situation
IN grave unrest, military medical
leaders of 80 nations were greeted
today by President Roosevelt with a
message which characterized their
gathering here as another signifi-
cant experience in international col
laboration and amity.'
The Presidents message was
brought to the 10th International
Congress of Military Medicine and
Pharmacy at the Departmental Au-
ditorium by Assistant Secretary of
State George A. Messersmith. who
laid stress upon the spirit Of
friendliness and helpfulness" in
which leading powers of the world
were gathered.
1t was a brilliant assemblage
sparkling with bright uniforms, gold
braid, stars and honor bars from
many conflicts, including the World
War.
The medical and pharmaceutical
men, many of them veterans of
bloody battlefields and surgeries,
were stirred by the American Assist
ant Secretary of State as he de-
clared:
1T is. I believe. peculiarly appro-
pirate in these days of uncertainty
and anxiety that the men whose
duties may destine them to witness
the tragic horrors of war should
be collaborating as professional
friends" He asked for aid in an
appeal to all peoples" to avoid the
horrors of war
International Activity.
Further emphasis was laid on
the spirit of international amity
by the addresses following As
sistant Secretary Messersmith, from
representatives of the United States,
Belgium, Germany and Great
Britain. These speakers included
Secretary of War Harry H. Wood
ring, Maj. Gen. C. R. Reynolds. the
surgeon general of the United States
Army, who is president of the Inter-
national Congress; Col. Jules Vonc-
ken, Belgian Army medical service,
who is secretary general Of the Inter-
national Committee; Gen. A. Wald-
mann, chief of army medical services
of Germany, and Gen. c. P. IlieScue
of Rumania, former president OF the
congress.
President Roosevelt expressed
greatest interest in the gathering
and advanced the hope that it would
be both profitable and enjoyable" +"
The noble work of your profess
sion," wrote the President, has i'm
pressed all mankind.
For my part. have been afforded
especial opportunities, first as an
Assistant Secretary of the Navy and
now as commander in chief of the
Army and Navy, to observe the
earneStness and success Of your
efforts. Your valuable contributions
to medical science. your faithful de-
votion to duty under the most trying
circumstances, and your diligent en-
deavors to serve your fellow men
have earned for you universal
respect.
Meeting in a spirit of comrade-
ship, you are today on the thresh-
old of another significant expert
ence in international collaboration
and amity I trust that your work
at this conference will be instru-
mental in demonstrating to the
world the indisputable advantages
of meeting on a common ground
of friendship to discuss problems
of mutual interest. May your labors
at this congress be crowned with
outstanding accomplishments"
Greeted BY Weodring.
Secretary Of War Woodring greet
ed the gathering in his capacity as
honorary president of the interna-
tional congress.
Solution of several major scien-
tific questions which will be under
discussion here, the Secretary said.
will have direct bearing upon the
amelioration Of the hardships and
adversities inevitable in war"
I'm gathering in this Capital
City," he continued, yours is there
fore mission of benevolence and
mercy. You assemble in complete
accord and with unanimity of hu-
manltarlan purpose. May there
come from your deliberations some
mitigation Of wars mercilessness
and may your efforts rebound to the
beneflt not only of military person.
mel, but OF civilian populations.
Speaking in his canacitv &C