Evening star., 1940-03-05
Americanism Lauded
Al National Banquet
Of Ahepa Order
Members Of Diplomatic
Corps and Of
Congress Attend

Congress Attend
Glowing tributes to Americanism
and warnings to those who would
destroy 1t were voiced in vigorous
terms last night at the biennial ma
tional banquet of the Order Of
Ahepa at the Mayflower Hotel.
More than 1000 attended the
Greek celebration, including the
Archbishop of the Hellenic Orthodox
Church of North and South Amer
lea, diplomatic representatives Of
Greece and Turkey, members Of
Congress and other leaders In
church, judicial and governmental
circles.
Serving notice on alien agitators
who would not conform with prin-
ciples established in America, Rep
resentative Fish, Republican, OF
New York declared: 1T is clearly
the duty of Congress to enact drastic
deportation laws to send those peo-
pie back to their native lands and
give their jobs to real Americans.
Mr.. Fish said he was proud" that
IN his investigation Of alien actlvl-
ties In America he had never found
Q Communist of Greek origin"
United States Best Country"
"If there is any country in the
world worth living in today" he
said, lit is the United States OF
America. We still believe it is
the best country, with the best form
of government in the world"
Making his first public appearance
since his arrival in the United
States several weeks ago. Minister
Kimon Diamantopoulos of Greece
said of the friendship existing be-
tween this country and his own gov
ernment:
This friendship, I wish to en-
phasize, was never more cordial
than today. United by common
ideals, by ardent patriotism, both
peace loving, the two nations-the
great Republic and small but IA
nous Greece-work today without
respite to face an international Sit
uation of which you all realize the
terrible difficulties. May God pro-
tect them
In describing the purposes of the
Order of Ahepa, v. 1. Chebithes.
supreme president and toastmaster
1T the banquet, said that the organ
ization is mot interested. or an
xious, to change the form OF gov
ernment we have"
I'VE have no ak to grind" he said.
"What Is good enough for the rest
Of the country is good enough for
Ahepa."
Would Build for Future.
Achilles Catsonis, past supreme
president, appealed to the members
to build for the future of America" J"
Representing the Sons of Pericles,
Junior organization of the order,
Nicholas L. Strike of Salt Lake City,
Utah, declared, I'VE will not submit
TO any force group which would cur
tail the system of government we
know today"
Youth in America. in contrast to
other lands he said, us free to
think"
Representative Celler. Democrat,
Of New York scored the "intoler-
ance" of some members of Congress
In their failure to hold the lamp
for refugees of foreign lands.
He advocated drastic changes in
the immigration quotas, which would
increase the numerical allowance for
immigration from some of the
smaller nations and decrease the
quotas for other larger countries
now falling far short of their totals.
Tributes to the Order Of Ahepa
were paid by Senators Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana; Schwellen-
bach, Democrat, of Washington,
and Herring, Democrat, of Iowa.
Speakers representing the Daugh-
ters of Penelope and the Maids of
Athens, respectively, were Miss
Marie Zuras and Miss Christine
Economou.
Turkish Ambassador Attends.
Ambassador Mehmet Munir Erte-
gun Of Turkey and Nine. Ertegun
and Nine. Diamantopoulos we're
among others seated at the speakers
table.
Violin selections were played on
the program by Mary Boxes Of New
York City.
The invocation and benediction
were pronounced by the Most Rev
6pyrou Athenagoras, Archbishop OF
the Hellenic Orthodox Church OF
North and South America. Mr.
Chebithes was introduced by George
Japanicolas, general chairman Of
the Ball Committee. Dancing fol-
lowed the dinner program.
The guest list:
Anas. N. g. Andy Miss Helen
Anderson. George Angel. Homer A. D.
Anderson. Harry Angel. Mrs.
Asnew, Theodore 8. Antonoplos Peter
Agnew. Mrs. Antonoplos, Mrs.
Asrafiotes, Peter Antonoplos, A.
Hie.snder William Arosto5aKos anHes: Isf john L.
Alexander, Mrs. Apostolakos. Mrs.
Alexander, John Arends Leslie c.
Alexiou. Speros Aronstein, Miss J.
AnaRnostopoulos. A. Asvestos. John
fAnaenosttopoulos. Asvestos. Mrs.
Mrs. Athanosopoulos.
Anderson. Nick Mrs. Jean
Andersen, H. Athenagoras,
Andrews. Emmanuel Archbishop
Andrews. Mrs. Atsalinos, John
Annas, Martin Atsalinos. Mrs.
Annas, Miss Austin Albert Z.
Andrews. Senator Austin, T.