Evening star., 1942-01-08
Representatives OF e
| Nations Drink Toast .
To Victory Over Axis
Ceremony Tokes Place
At Informal Party
At British Embassy
BY FRANCES LIDE.

May the Righteousness of their
purpose, the courage of their hearts
and the strength of their arms bear
them, by Gods will, to speedy and
conclusive victory.
1.-THE United Nations and all
their friends everywhere"
To this toast to victory, repre-
sentatives of the 26 nations pledged
to all-out military and economic CO.
operation against the Axis raised
their glasses in solemn little cere-
mony yesterday in the stately draw
ing room of the British Embassy.
On the whole, it was an informal
party which the British Ambassa-
dor and Lady Halifax had arranged
in celebration of the sober declara-
ton which a few days earlier had
joined the nations represented by
their guests in collective effort for
an Axis defeat.
Ambassador Has Cold.
The Ambassador, confined to bed
with a cold, could not be present.
But Lady Halifax did the honors for
the occasion. When the guests were
assembled, she climbed up on a green
brocaded diyan and proposed the
toast which her husband had
planned to offer.
Last Friday we Joined in a decla-
ration which set out both our pur-
pose and our determination to
achieve it," she read from a slip of
paper. Yesterday, in words which
will re-echo round the world.
bringing joy to the oppressed and
CONSERVATION to our enemies, the
President of the United States re-
corded the quality of American res
olution. In the same spirit, give
you the toast of 26 nations united
in the cause of human liberty"
The toast was drunk in Martins
and tomato juice. There was a
brief pause-and then the assem-
bled guests resumed the friendly
conversation which marked this
after 6" reception.
President Roosevelt, who had
been the first signer of the historic
document, was represented yester-
day by Vice President Wallace and
Undersecretary Of State Welles,
among others.
Litvinoffs Attend.
Prime Minister Churchill was alb
sent, but Maxim Litvinoff, the Rus
sian Ambassador and third signer,
attended with Nine. Litvinoff. both
being the center of animated groups
throughout the afternoon.
Both the Chinese Ambassador, DR..
HUI Shih, and the Chinese Minister
of Foreign Affairs, T. v. Soong, were
present, the latter accompanied by
Nine. Soong, who wore a Chinese
gown of brilliant peacock blue.
Etienne Boegner, member Of the
Free French delegation here. was
in the company, which also included
representatives of all the refugee
governments which had affixed their
signatures to the historic declara-
ton
India's new envoy, Sir Girja Shan
kar Bajpai, who is agent general for
his government, also was there TAX
ing his place with the diplomatic
representatives Of the British do
minionS.
Press Represented.
Heads Of the Latin American mis-
sionS whose governments are joined
in the united nations were out In
full force.
Most of the diplomats were accom-
panied by their wives-and there was
a small contingent from the press as
officers of both the National Press
Club and the Women's National
Press Club had been invited to at
tend.
Before she tapped for attention to
offer the toast, Lady Halifax min
gled with her guests in the high
ceilinged room where few Christ
mas greens were still in place.
Not only was the Ambassador i'll,
but also the British Minister, Sir
Roland Campbell, it was explained.