Evening star., 1941-10-03
Hartman Told
ToQuery Soviet
On Religion
Roosevelt Reveals
Instructions to
Head of Mission
By JOHN c. HENRY.

President Roosevelt olecloeeQ
today that he had instructed W.
Averell Hartman. head OF the
aid -to-Russia delegation,
to take up with the Soviet govern
ment the issue of religious freedom
in that country.
Discussing this highly contro-
versial question at his press con-
ference this morning, the Chief Ex-
ecutive indicated further that he
had submitted initial instructions
on this matter to Laurence Stein
hardt. American Ambassador to
Moscow, or others, but that he is
waiting particularly for Mr.. Har-
riman to report precise develop
ments.
Mr.. Roosevelt declined to elab-
crate on the nature of his directions
to Mr.. Hartman, or to speculate on
possible outcome of the conversa-
tions until he receives a report from
his representative. He indicated
his exchange with Mr.. Steinhardt
had been fairly recent.
Taylor Due Today.
The President declined 10 say
whether Myron c. Taylor. his spe-
cial representative at the Vatican,
had taken up the matter with Pope
Plus XII Answer to that question
must wait Mr.. Taylors return to
this country. he said Mr.. Taylor
was reported due in the United
States today by trans Atlantic Clip
per from Lisbon
Asked by one reporter If the ef-
fort to bring about full freedom
OF religion in Russia is a start to-
ward achieving the -four freedoms"
which he has pronounced as vital
to the world, the President replied
that his own record for the past
eight years has been consistent in
support of the principle OF free
worship.
An indication that this Govern
ment had taken unpublicized steps
to establish the practice of COM
plete freedom of religion in Com
muniSt Russia was given by the
White House yesterday afternoon
in clarifying release ON previous
presidential press conference re-
marks on the subject. In the re-
lease. the White House expressed
the hope that the reported granting
of free worship privileges to Poles
in Russia represented AN entering
wedge" for complete freedom.
Roosevelt Urged to Act.
riinr pN4eny-n1t -
! in a high Catholic quarter to take
direct hand in influencing Russia
to grant full religious freedom,
The Rev. Edmund A. Walsh, S. j.,
vice president Of Georgetown Uni
( versity. said the events of the last
"a hours convince me that the hour
has come for definite and con-
structive move on the part Of the
President of the United States"
After Mr.. Roosevelt, at his Tues
day press conference, had described
the Russian constitutions religious
guarantees as essentially the same
as ours. Father Walsh had quickly
declared that provision of the Rus
sian constitution was nothing but
hollow smell.
Some Misquotations.
His later and more hopeful com
ment was based on yesterdays
White House statement, declaring
that the Presidents press con-
ference remarks had been sub
jected to conflicting interpretations
| and some Interpretations.
The White House made public a
stenographic transcription of the
press conference exchange and
added this paragraph:
Since the Soviet constitution de-
clares that freedom of religion is
granted. 1t is hoped that in the light
of the report of the Polish Ambas-
sador an entering wedge for the
practice of complete freedom Of re-
ligion is denfitely on its way"
This referred to a letter from Jan
Ciechanowski, Polish Ambassador,
made public Tuesday, saying that
Russia had permitted a Polish
Catholic church and Polish Jewish
synagogue to open in Moscow and
that Polish communities had been
granted freedom of worship.
In commenting at his press con-
ference on this letter. President
Roosevelt referred reporters to ar
ticle 124 Of the Soviet constitution
which he said granted freedom of
| conscience and religion and freedom
to use propaganda against religion
He added this was essentially what
is the rule in this country: only. We
don't put 1t quite the same way"
Remarks Protested.
Church leaders, Catholic and
Protestant. protested the Presidents
remarks, asserting that the Soviet
constitution was not carried out in
practice and granted only restricted
religious rights anyway.
After noting the widespread reac-
| ton to his remarks and conferring
for IS minutes with the Right Rev.
Mgsr. Michael J. Ready. general sec
retary of the National Catholic We'll
fare Conference, the President late
yesterday authorized the release Of
the stenographic transcript Of the
press conference discussion, with the
(See RELIGION. Page AID
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