Evening star., 1939-09-01
Germans, Poles
Pray Together
AtC. j. Mass
Neither Comment
On War at Pax
Romano Congress

Polish and German representa-
tives attending Pax Romano Con-
gress knelt together in a prayer for
peace at the Shrine of the Immacu-
late Conception at Catholic Univer-
sity here today as their countries
began an undeclared war.
Neither German nor Polish dele
gates would comment about the war
or their future actions. A young
German priest told reporters: TT
is not possible for me to say any
thing"
Several Polish delegates were so
shocked by the war news that they
had to retire to their rooms.
Possessing no radios or news
paper deliveries to their university
quarters, the delegates were entirely
unaware that hostilities had broken
out in their home continent until the
close of early mass. The ceremony
was celebrated as usual.
Then Able Joseph Gremaud, gen.
eral secretary of the organization,
announced after the benediction
that the invasion of Poland had be-
gun.
Women Weep Leaving Shrine.
Leaving the shrine, women wept.
But no member became hysterical.
The British leader. DR.. Francis
Aylward of Liverpool, said:
This is perfectly tragic for the
Poles. The only thing we can do
Is to keep on as usual. Otherwise
there would be hysteria."
A day of prayer for divine aid in
the peace mission of the delegates to
the congress was announced by Pax
Romano officials In relays of an
hour each, national delegations were
assigned to pray in the Shrine of
the Immaculate Conception, where
the blessed sacrament was exposed,
possibly to remain there through
out the night.
The first prayer group was made up
of Polish and German representa-
tives, kneeling from 10 to II am
The Canadian. French and Belgian
delegations followed.
Many Subject to Draft.
Most of the delegates are of an
age that will make them liable to
draft. Typical was a young blond
Frenchman, Henri Jacob, who was
asked whether he would willingly
fight.
Il don't like war. I think that I
love my country" he shrugged.
Able Gremaud announced that
Secretary of State Hull had asked
him to continue the congress with
courage and calm. He said that
the embassies would keep in con-:
slant touch with the heads of the
delegations. It was understood
that no word had come from the
Vatican since the telegram Pope
Plus XII sent yesterday congratulate
ing the congress on it's peace work.
When a general assembly was called
Able Gremaud, apparently afraid
that the congress would appear in
confusion, requested that individual
delegates give no interviews to
members of the press, and excluded
reporters from a business session.
1t was learned, however, that the
session would take action on rec
concentrations decided upon by an
executive committe last night. 1t
was understood that the committee
will advocate the afflliation. to Pax
Romano of students federations in
four continents, from Australia,
Portugal, India and America.
The executive committee recon-
mended that the next Congress be
held in Spain. A Spaniard will
probably be elected international
president, it was said.
The rumor circulated through the
conference today that the interna-
tional headquarters of Pax Romano
will be moved from Fribourg, Swift
zerland, to the United States if hos
tilities continue in Europe. The
headquarters have been in Fribourg
since the Catholic organization was
formed to reunite national elements
of the church, jpst after the World
War.