Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-03-17
Secretary Calls
For Extension of
Selective Service
(Tert OF Byrnes Address on
Page A-S.)
BY the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Mar. 16.-Secre-
tary of State Byrnes tonight re-
jected any idea of an alliance
with Russia against Britain or
Britain against Russia. He de-
clared the United States bases
its hopes for security on the
United Nations Organization "as
the path to enduring peace"
In a speech before a meeting of
the Society of the Friendly Sons
OF st. Patrick" at the Hotel Astor,
MIR. Byrnes called for extension of
the Selective Service Act beyond
the expiration date of May Is.
Even now, he said, the leaders of
the Government ARE alarmed" at
the lack of physically fit men to
keep the Army up to strength and
unless the draft law is renewed "the
situation will become critical"
Mr.. Byrnes expressed his whole
hearted and unequivocal endorse
ment of the proposal for universal
military training" as a long term
assurance of trained reserves.
Stresses Military Strength.
He said the United States needs
military strength to support, If ne
cessary, the purposes and principles
of the United Nations Charter.
Il cannot emphasize too strongly"
he declared, that the United States
looks to the United Nations as the
path to enduring peace.
I'VE do not propose to seek Sc
curity in an alliance with the Soviet
Union against Great Britain or in
an alliance with Great Britain
against the Soviet Union"
The Secretary did not say who if
any one has proposed such an alli-
ance. Recently the idea has been
much discussed as result of Win
ston Churchill's speech at Fulton,
Mo-, advocating a special associ-
alton between the United States
and Great Britain. Mr.. Churchill
subsequently denied he was asking
for military alliance. He ex-
planned here last night that what
he had in mind would be more than
that.
Says Ills Can Be Solved.
Mr.. Byrnes described, without
specifying any particular issues,
present world difficulties as "seri-
Gus, but said they could be solved
IF all of us approach those diff
culties in a spirit of Cancellation and
good will"
After every great war there
comes period of anti-climax and
disillusionment," the secretary de-
clared.
Those who fight together ex-
pect, when the fighting is over, too
much from one another and are in
clined to give too little to one an
other
Having been forced to fight for
military victory, they sometimes
think that whatever they want
should be taken by force instead
of making their claims the basis
for peaceful negotiation.
Patience and Firmness.
ut takes time to pass from the
psychology of war to the psychology
of peace. We must have patience
as well as flrmness.
I'VE must keep our feet on the
ground. We cannot afford to lose
our tempers."
In arguing for the continuation
OF selective service, Mr.. Byrnes
said that ut is imperative that the
act be extended at least for the
period in which the Army and Navy
have the multiple responsibility for
the occupation of Germany and
Japan, for the protection of our
surpluses overseas, for the continue
Ing defense of the United States
and for the fulfillment of our COM
mitments under the charter"
Francis Cardinal Spellman was
late arrival at the dinner. He flew
back today from St. Louis, where he
attended funeral services for John
Cardinal Glennon.
Cardinal Spellman recalled to the
1890 persons at the dinner that some
years ago he had told the American
Legion in Boston that cts better to
have protection and not need it,
than to need protection and not
have it."
The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Fulton j. Sheen
OF Catholic University, Washington,
said that Sin the southern part of
Russia there are 100000 Poles that
are denied the solace of religion"
The bishop among them" he said,
told me that he ordained two dea-
cons in the army. The next day they
were taken out and shot. They are
forbidden the consolation of religion,
and the penalty of death awaits any,
one who does practice it,"