Evening star., 1948-04-11
Foreign Scholars Eagerly Comb
His Records for Book Material

! DOOk NdlClldl
Isbiy will be used to inspire school
children for years TO come. Every
day he triumphed over pain. Those
close to him felt for him every time
he WINGED as he rose in his braces.
Miss Perkins, James F. Byrnes,
Hull and Stimson all mention their
concern about his health late in
1914 and early 194s. His discomfort
apparently increased.
It would seem triumphing over
human nature itself to deny this
had no affect on his attitude. His
conversations with Byrnes about the
Germans show his peace ideas were
Draconian, He wouldn't let them
starve. Army soup Kitchens could
give them three meals q day. They
could work on that. He talked OF
manpower reparations-not for the
the United States, of course, but
for the Allies. The Germans had
done q lot of damage. Let them re.
pair 1t.
No Trouble to Preachers
The Morgenthau plan (which was
rejected after almost unanimous
condemnation in the press but
which undoubtedly still influences
the German situationI was q result.
When Morgenthau came back from
Quebec and reported his success to
Hull and Stimson they were indig-.
nant. Stimson in his book suggests
that Morgenthau obtained Church.
ills assent by his argument that
it would remove q competitor for
British manufactures. He apparent-
ly did not see that 1t would also
remove the European market: that
modern Europe's economy has al
ways depended on German produc-
ton. But Hull does not conceal his
cynicism in his memoirs. He asked
Morgenthau point-blank II his
proffer of a six billion dollar credit
to Great Britain was the price Of
Churchills initials on the memo
randum.
Stimson records his diary notes on
luncheon on october 8, 1914, when
the President was apparently very
tired and unwell." When Stimson
pointed out to him that the paper
he had initiated contained the prop
osition of converting Germany into
a country primarily agricultural and
pastoral in its character" he was
frankly staggered by this and said
he had no idea how he could have
initiated it."
Mr.. Roosevelt will give the preach
ers no trouble, as did Lincoln, in
the matter of church membership.
The Great Emancipator did not
make any denominational profess
sion of faith. Mr.. Roosevelt went to
an Episcopal church school (Grot-
on), was q warden of the Episcopal
Church of Hyde Park and, when he
first came to Washington as As
sistant Secretary of the Navy in
World War I, he was a junior yestry-
man at st. Thomas Church. Due to
his affliction and public curiosity,
he hated church attendance as
President.
Drew the Line
He told Frances Perkins, Il can
do almost everything In the goldfish
bowl OF the Presidents life, bur I'll
be hanged If I can say my prayers
in it. - . BY the time I have gotten
into that pew and settle down with
everybody looking at me, I don't
feel like saying my prayers at all"
Miss Perkins says In her book: His
Christian faith was absolutely
simple. As far as I can make out,
he had no doubts. He believed with
a certainty and simplicity that gave
him no pangs or struggles.
"The problems OF higher criticism,
of the application of scientific c.s-
coveries to the traditional teachings
of the Christian faith and the BIZ
blical record, bothered him not in
the least. He knew what religion
was and he followed it.
1T was more than a code Of ethics
to him. 1t was real relationship
Of man to God, and he felt IS certain
OF it as of the reality of his n.e."
1t was a perfectly natural thing
for him, on the morning Of his first
inaugural in the midst Of the bank
ing crisis, to ask his cabinet to at
tend services with him at st. Johns.
1t was just as natural for him in
the other great crisis Of his presi-
dency, the D day landings in Nor
mandy on which everything was
staked, to ask the Nation to join
him in prayer.
Millions will remember that voice
in prayer that night and succeeding
generations possibly will hear re-
cordings of it. 1t went:
Almighty God: Our sons, pride
Of our Nation, this day have set upon
a mighty endeavor. q struggle to
preserve our Republic, our religion
and our civilization. and to set free
a suffering humanity.
Lead them straight and true: give
strength to their arms, stoutness to
their hearts, steadfastness In their
faith.
Some will never return: embrace
these, Father, and receive them,
Thy heroic servants into Thy King
dom. ."
He was a fatality himself before
the victory.
A Popular Phrase
There Is nothing TO fear but
fear ITSELF" probably will be his
q