The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-10-16
(By Staff Writer)

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Oct. 10
President Roosevelt's efforts to
create a more sympathetic feeling
in this country toward Russia, by
making it seem that Russia's anti
religious reputation is exaggerat-
ed, seems temporarily to have fiz-
zled, although it may yet produce
the results he sought.
His statements indicating that
Russia does have form of reli-
gious freedom, in which he point
ed out that the Russian constitu
ton provides for freedom of Wor-
ship, was met by resounding cri-
ticism on all sides. Leaders of
practically all religious groups
loudly attacked this stand, point
ing out that the Communist gov
eminent was notorious enemy Of
religion.
But the presidents later move,
aimed at persuading Russia to
take definite steps toward relig-
ious freedom, was hailed by some
of the same religious leaders as a
move which might lead toward a
more tolerant attitude toward re-
ligion by the Russian government.
It at least resulted in an imme-
diate statement by S. A. Lozov-
sky, official spokesman for the
Russian government, in which he
reaffirmed Soviet religious free
dom and said that the Soviet gov
eminent lives up to Article 124 of
it's constitution, which reads:
"To insure to citizens freedom
of conscience, the church in the
U. S. S. R. is separated from the
state and the school from the
church. Freedom to perform re-
ligious rites and freedom of anti
religious propaganda is recog-
nized for all citizens"
1t is expected that, while Mr..
Lozovskys' statement did not say
that the Soviet government would
change it's attitude toward religion,
the mere re-affirmation of this
part of it's constitution would tend
toward curbing the Goddess pro-
paganda" which has been spread
by the Communist government
ever since the Revolution.
President Roosevelt believes 1t
is imperative for us to give aid to
Russia in it's fight against Hitler,
but is in the difficult position of
asking the American people to
help a nation which most of us
have considered an enemy of all
the things we stand for. Any con-
cessions toward religious free
dom in Russia would make it
easier to get our people to support
greater aid to Russia.
Such aid will be sought in con-
junction with the new $5,585, OOO,-
900 lease-lend measure which the
President is backing and which
congress is expected to pass, al
though considerable opposition to
permitting much of this fund to
be used to help Russia is expected
in both houses of congress.
Congress is ready to take quick
action on revision of our nautrall-
ty law, following the sinking OF
more American ships sailing un-
der Panama registry. A poll OF the
senate, although not conclusive
since a large number of senators
were non-committal, indicates that
a small majority favors either
scrapping of the act or revising
it to permit arming of our mer-
chant ships.
Government officials are taking
the attitude that the sinking OF
more ships, although under Pana-
ma registry, has aroused pubic
opinion to the point where the
majority of people favor modlt1-
cation of the neutrality act. This
attitude also is backed by recent
Gallup polls of public opinion. In
one recent poll, 70 per cent of the
people questioned said that they
considered the defeat of Hitler
more important than keeping this
country at peace.
The actual cost of our defense
program changes so quickly that
it is impossible to figure it very
far ahead, but a recent estimate
of defense and lend-lease expen-
ditures for 1912, made by Harold
D. Smith, director of the bureau
of the budget, says that it will
amount to about $18,000,OO0,0OO
in 1912, which is over seven bill
lions more han was estimated
when the 1912 budget was an
nounced last January.
Mr.. Smith attributes this in
creased estimate to speeding up
of production and to higher costs
of materials. He predicts that by
next June we will be spending two
billions a month on ornaments.