Evening star., 1946-06-11
Byrnes Asks Nation
To Pray for Success
OF New Big 4 Talks
By Gornett D. Horner

By Gornett D. Horner
Secretary of State Byrnes today
called on the country to pray for
the success of the forthcoming Paris
meeting Of Big Four foreign min
listers and urged that efforts to work
out European peace settlements not
be regarded as a diplomatic football
game.
Any progress toward just and
enduring peace made at the Paris
meeting will be victory for all,
not for any one country, Mr.. Byrnes
said. adding solemnly:
If we fail, it is defeat for man.
kind as we'll as the powers repre-
sented"
Mr.. Byrnes plans to leave Thurs
day for Paris, accompanied by
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee and
Senator Vandenberg, Republican, of
Michigan, who had served as his
advisers at the last foreign minis
ter's conference.
Recessed Without Argument.
The session beginning in Paris
Saturday is resumption Of a con-
ference that was convened April Is
and RECESSED without any agree
ment on major controversial issues
involved in writing peace treaties
for Germany's former European
allies.
Mr.. Byrnes' discussion of the need
for prayers for success of the meet
ing started out in a jesting spirit
at a news conference, but quickly
turned deadly serious.
A reporter reminded the Secretary
that when he left for Paris the last
time, he said he was standing in
the need of prayer" and asked,
What is it you think you may need
this time?"
Amid laughter, Mr.. Byrnes re-
piled, Il would say more prayers"
Then he emphasized that he was
speaking in all seriousness.
Il don't say that in jest" Mr.
Byrnes said. II did say it originally,
but ! afterwards came to believe
that we did stand in the need of
prayer, and I hope those prayers
will continue-I mean more prayers.
The truth Is, I would greatly re-
gret it if our people regarded the
conference as football game, or
any progress that is made as
diplomatic victory for one country
or another.
"All of us must have but one
hope and that is making some prog
ress toward just and enduring
peace. If We make any progress
toward that goal it is victory for
all, not for any one.
IF we fail it is a defeat for man.
kind as well as the powers repre-
sented"
In response to other questions, the
Secretary said no progress has been
made through diplomatic exchanges
since the last meeting in Paris to-
ward agreement on the controversial
issues, and reiterated that the Unit
ed States and Great Britain would
not form any bloc" nthe peace
discussions
Plan for Senate Action Dropped.
Meanwhile, the threat of bitter
debate repeatedly forced the ad-
ministration to abandon a drive for
Senate Endorsement of Secretary
Byrnes' handling of foreign policy.
The tentative draft of resolu-
tion which leaders circulated among
some Senators was interpreted by
several members as offering strong
support for the firm attitude Mr..
Byrnes took against several Russian
demands at the first Paris meeting
of Foreign Ministers.
The plan had been to seek to
strengthen the Secretary's hand in
advance of his new Paris confer
ence.
In this connection, the proposed
resolution would have had the Sen
ate express Its accord with the
efforts of Secretary Byrnes to obtain
the acceptance of four-power pact
and his purpose to seek an early con-
clusion of peace treaties based on
freedom of speech, ballot and wor-
ship together with all other princi-
Piles for which this country has
fought the war"
While Mr.. Byrnes and Senators
Connally and Vandenberg all were
said to have favored the idea of
Senate action on such a resolution,
the plan repeatedly was dropped for
fear that its passage could not be OBJ
tanned without an opposition explo-
sion that would at least dull the
effect