Evening star., 1946-02-05
Speakers Cite Reasons
For Aid 10 Russia as
Fund Drive Opens

The more the United States helps
Soviet Russia recover from the dev-
astation she suffered during the
war, the sooner Russia will practice
the freedom which we in this coun-
try hold dear, Senator Pepper, Dem
ocrat, of Florida said last night in
keynoting a dinner of the American
Society for Russian Relief, Inc,
which launched its 1916 drive for
$25, ,000, 900 for relief supplies for the
USSR.
The group seeks $4,000 in WASH
ington for addition of children's
ward to Moscow hospital. The
ward will be dedicated to Mrs. j.
Borden Hartman, former Ambas-
sador to Norway and chairman Of
the relief society. Last nights din
ner was in her honor.
Speaking at the Mayflower Hotel
before an audience literally sprinkled
with Government officials and mem
bers of Washington's diplomatic
corps, Senator Pepper ignored his
prepared script as he told his hear
ers that Stain told him last October
Russia could not fight the United
States even If it wanted to, because
Russian is too war-weary.
Eventually Will Be Strong.
II believe that" the Senator said.
Russia took terrible beating. Our
country is suffering from disease
called obosiderodromophobia I" .
which means the fear of being
afraid of being afraid
"At the same time," he continued,
1--WE must realize that Russia will
eventually be strong, whether or
not we send them relief, whether
or not we are friendly to them and
whether or not we give them loan.
The question is, how many people
are going to die over there in the
meantime"
The meeting, presided over by
Joseph E. Davies, former United
States Ambassador to Russia, heard
a succession of speakers stress the
necessity for cooperation and I'M
derstanding between the two coun-
tries.
Secretary of Commerce Wallace
said: Perhaps Russia falls behind
us in understanding the application
of certain freedoms that we all
rightly care lot about. Perhaps
we fall behind Russia in under
standing certain elements of eco
nomic justice and the brotherhood
of men. regardless of race. Il
would welcome competition between
ourselves and Russia, they under
their system and we under ours, to
see which could go farthest and
fastest toward raising the economic
standards of all people without re-
gard to race"
Suspicion Hit.
Mrs. Hartman said: "'Love thy
neighbor' is so easy to say and so
obviously right-but so hard to put
into practice. There are many sore
spots in relations between Russia
and the United States. Neither of
us is behaving well, and the root
cause is the same in both cases
suspicion. We must take the
lead in allaying this suspicion"
Mr.. Davies declared: I'VE in the
United States are inclined to use
bifocal glasses in viewing interna-
tional relations. We look up to see
ourselves, and down Ito see others.
It's plain to any one with the
sense God gave geese that unless
the two greatest powers on earth
can get along together we will have.
an arms race that will produce war
"a war which will begin or end
with an atomic explosion that will
make life impossible for your grand
children and mine"
Supreme Court Justice Black
said: II believe in peace. Some of
my ancestors fought in every war in
American history. I don't want
any more of them. I have no
fear of Russia. 1t shocks me to
hear some of the statements made
in this country today. I think I
know why they are made. I think
it's because the people who make
them disapprove of Russia's eco
nomic system and fear it. AS I
understand America, we have no
reason to fear the ideas of any
country on EARTH"
Edward c. Carter, president of
the society, declared: IT know from
personal experience that the Rus
slams feel immense gratitude to-
ward America for the relief we have
sent them. They want us to go on
sending, and we should"