Evening star., 1941-10-04
President Awaits
Word on Soviet Stand
On Christian Freedom
Toylor Is Expected to
Go to Hyde Park TO
Report on Voticon Visit
By JOHN c. HENRY,
star staff Correspondent.


NEW YORK, Oct. Engaged in
(. momentous effort to influence q
revival of Christian freedom in
Communist Russia, President
Roosevelt today anxiously awaited
progress reports from two repre-
sentatives entrusted with major re-
sponsibilities in this project.
Due to reach the United States
during the week end by trans-At-
lantic clipper plane from Lisbon,
Portugal was Myron c. Taylor, ell
derlv steel magnate who recently
completed secretive special mission
at the Vatican.
Although neither the President
nor any other Washington source
would admit that Mr., Taylor's con-
situations with Pope Plus XII and
other Vatican authorities had dealt
with the vexing question of religious
freedom in Russia, the timing OF MS
visit to Rome and his subsequent
conferences with British and Amer
icsn officials in London lead to the
belief that this matter was the prln-
cipal reason for his mission.
President Withholds Comment.
Questioned about this possibility
al his press conference yesterday.
the President evsded direct answer
hv saving comment must be with
held pending Mr.. Taylor's return.
With the President planning to
reach Hyde Park late today and to
remain until Monday night, it was
believed likely that Mr.. Taylor may
go there Immediately for a report to
the Chief Executive.
Being awaited meanwhile is word
from w. Averill Hartman, head of
the American aid-to-RuSsia delega-
ton, to whom Mr.. Roosevelt ad-
mittedly gave particular instructions
10 take up the religious issue in the
course of the recently concluded
three power conference in Moscow.
Disclosure that he had imposed
this task upon Mr.. Hartman was
made by the President at Yesterdays
press conference. but he stopped
short of giving any details or even of
venturing any prediction as TO the
special envoy'S success.
Promises Possible.
In view OF the unqualified pledge
Of all possible American and British
assistance to the Russians, an
announced in joint declaration Is
sued at conclusion of the Moscow
conferences. the Soviet government
may have promised some llberaliza-
ton of it's historic unfriendlinesS to
the practices of freedom of religion.
Actually. the President indicated
10 his conference that he had made
Overtures to the Kremlln in advance
of the Hartman mission. presum-
ably through Ambassador Laurence
A. Steinhardt or Harry L. Hopkins,
who visited Moscow several weeks
ago.
Stopping here this morning to Sc
lect some family possessions for re-
moval from the Roosevelt town
house on East 65th street, the Pres
ident also was waiting today for a
full report on the sinking OF the
manned tanker l. c. White
of Brazil on September q.
Destruction of the Panama regis
tered vessel occurred in the same
Atlantic area as that in which the
American freighter Robin Moor
was sunk on May 81.
1t occurred. too, as the President
prepared to submit to White House
conference of Senate Democratic
and Republican leaders next Tues
dav an outline of the adminiStra-
ton in the desires on overhaullng
the Neutrality Act. Foremost OF
these desires, it is believed, is re-
moval of the provision against arm
ing merchant ships and perhaps
that against entrance of American
ships into belligerent waters.
Calls on Private Charity.
Before boarding his train in
Washington last night, the Presi-
dent participated in the annual
radio appeal of the Community
Mobilization for Human Needs, ask
ing in the name of national defense
that the American people make an
extra effort this year to make prl-
vate charity drives effective.
1T is true" he said. that more
people are at work in our land today
than ever before 1t is true that
our national income is rising. But
It is still true that millions of our
fellow citizens are still under
nourished, i'll clad and poorly
housed. Bad health mains too
MANY of our American households.
We must build up, not merely
our Army and our Navy. but we
must build up the well-being of our
civilian population. Adequate ma
tionsl defense denfiitely needs it. y
Mr. Roosevelt planned to spend
several hours at the double home
which his mother, the late Mrs.
Sara Delano Roosevelt, maintained
here. The house is now being
offered for sale.
The Chief Executive was to con-
tinue on to HYDE Park by automo-
bile late this afternoon.