Evening star., 1946-12-25

plane bringing President Tru-
man home for Christmas with
his family in independence
landed at 12:45 pm. EST today
at Fairfax Airport after a five
hour flight from Washington.
(Tert OF President Truman's
Christmas Message ON Page A-7.)
A Christmas of peace, hope
and plenty came to Washington
today, and 1t was a day fol
laughter in the a. homes and
Thanksgiving in the churches.
Before leaving to spend the day
with his family at Independence
Mo-, President Truman gave a
Christmas eve message of hope fol-
lasting peace in a greeting to his
countrymen and the world at the
National Community Christmas tree
on the White House lawn at dusk
Christmas eve.
President Leaves for Home.
Mr.. Truman took off from Ma
tional Airport at 7:44 am. today in
the Sacred Cow on four and
one-half hour flight to Kansas City
Arriving at the airport at 7::30, he
greeted a few waiting newspaper
men with CHEEKY Merry Christ
mas" and wondered how they got
UP so early. Carrying an armload
of bundles, he boarded the plane.
He was accompanied by Maj. Gen
Harry H. Vaughan, his military
aide; Miss Rose Conway, his per-
sonal secretary, and Mr.. and Mrs.
Louis Truman. Louis Truman is a
cousin tof the President.
In Washington, as in Independ-
ence and every big and little town
in America, it was a real old-fash-
ioned Christmas, with more fami-
lies united than at any time since
the outbreak of war five years ago.
Snow Is Absent.
About the only thing missing
from the traditional scene was a
blanket of snow. Like most of the
Nation, washington had compara-
lively balmy weather, with tempera-
lures headed for the middle 40s
Gusty wind, ranging from 20 to 80
miles per hour, kept nip in the
air.
The Weather Bureau forecast a
low of 26 degrees tonight and looked
for cloudy and milder weather to-
morrow. It will be much colder by
tomorrow night, but there Is still
no hint of snow.
Broadcasting principally to men in
service and to sick and disabled
veterans, Secretary of War Patter-
son said the world still is a "long
way from the peace, good will
toward men promised by the herald
angels 1900 years ago" but is max
ing definite progress"
Hope Held for Disarmament.
"The nations of the world this
year, if they have done nothing
more, have sat down together and
discussed universal disarmament" F."
he said.
Noting that the countries of the
world plan to continue" the dis
armament discussions, Mr.. Patter-
son said:
"A year ago they could not talk
about universal, lasting peace. Five
years ago, 10 years ago they could
not even consider the hope. Today
there is a strong possibility, not
that we shall achieve peace over
night, but that we are making def
mite progress on the path toward
peace"
Institutions Serve Turkey.
Just as turkey dinners high lighted
the day in most homes, inmates in
the Districts institutions feasted on
the traditional bird and enjoyed
parties. Months of work by the
Red Cross, service organizations and
charities had guaranteed Christmas
joy for almost everybody.
Before leaving their desks for yes
terday's half holiday, many Federal
and District government employees
attended parties and exchanged
gifts. In the District Building, the
Commissioners held a reception.
Other parties were sponsored by
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler and
Auditor Arthur R. Pilkerton.
Commerce Department employees
gathered around huge tree to sing
carols. Under the tree were hun
dreds of toys and dolls for needy
children. Commerce employees also
gave 81 200 and 1000 presents to the
"Yanks who gave
At the Christmas eve ceremony
the President yesterday called on
the Star of Faith, the message of
Bethlehem, to guide the world into
the place of peace as it did the shep-
herds on that day of Christ's birth
long ago.
All the networks carried his brief
plea for understanding among ma
tions over the country and by short
wave to Europe and Asia.
WashingtonianS thus started their
Christmas festivities by attending
the ceremony or listening at their
radios at the close of a mild, SPAR
king day. The traditional Testing
and gift-giving remained for today.
81 am sorry to say" Mr.. Truman
told his Christmas eve audience,
"all is not harmony in the world to-
day. We have found that it is easier
for men to die together on the field
of battle than it is for them to live
together at home in peace"
He saw the United Nations as "the
worlds hope for peace" and said it
faced problems that would over
whelm faint hearts, But, he added,
1--WE shall find strength and courage
(See CHRISTMAS, Page A-4)