Evening star., 1950-02-22
Truman 10 Make
Foreign Policy
Address Today
Arises early to Lead
Capital in Honoring
First President

President Truman arose at dawn
today to lead the Nations Capt.
tai in it's observance Of the 218th
anniversary of the birth of George
Washington.
A straight from the shoulder"
declaration on foreign policy will
keynote his tribute to the First
President at ceremonies in Alex
andria later today, President
Truman said.
Undeterred by a cold rain which
was expected to continue inter-
mitteptly throughout the day, the
Nations 33d President appeared
.at tbs am. at a Masonic break
fast at the Hotel Statler.
Statue to Be Dedicated.
Speaking informally, the Presi-
dent told gathering of about $50
that he would speak between 2::30
and 3 o'clock this afternoon at
the dedication of a 17-foot statue
of the First President at the
George Washington Masonic Me-
mortal in Alexandria.
Mr.. Truman suggested that
those at the breakfast might be
interested in the major policy dec
laration he intended to enunciate
this afternoon.
The United States, the Presi-
dent said, is fighting for The well
fare of governments which be-
lieves in the ideals of the Ameri-
can Bill of Rights for their
citizens.
He said he hoped such meet
ings as the breakfast gathering
sponsored by Frank Land, of
Kansas City. founder of the De
Molay Order. would continue from
year to year.
Talk Arouses Interest.
Such meetings, the President
declared, are good "for the well
fare not only of this organization
to which we belong, but for the
welfare of the United States and
the Governments of the world as
whole who believe in the Bill
of Rights for their citizens
Decision of Mr.. Truman to use
the anniversary of the birth of
the First President, who warned
the Nation to avoid entangling
foreign alliance for a major for
eign policy address created unus-
ual interest here. 1t had been ex-
pected that his talk in Alexandria
would go no further than a trib-
ute to Washington as a statesman.
soldier and Mason.
Mr.. Truman noted the presence
of number of Roman Catholics
at the Statler breakfast and re-
marked it was pleasure to see
so many who are not members of
the fraternity"
They are just as good citizens
and just as good men, neverthe-
less" the President continued
with broad smile. Il am very
sure that there are some of them
here this morning that I am 60
ing to have to get absolution for.
I am a very good friend of his
holiness, the Pope. so you needn't
worry"
Among the Catholics present
were Secretary of Labor Tobin
and two of Mr.. Truman's personal
secretaries, Matthew J. Connolly
and William D. Hassett.
Gen. Byers Speaks.
At the elaborate celebration in
the auditorium of the Interior
Department this morning, Mai.
Gen. Clovis E. Byers, deputy di-
rector OF the personnel and ad-
ministration division of the Army
General Staff, spoke.
The celebration was held by Tho
Daughters of the. American Revo-
luton, the Children of the Amer
lean Revolution, the Sons of the
American Revolution and the Sons
Of the Revolution. 1t was the 36th
joint observance Of Washington's
birthday by the groups.
Gen. Byers reminded the au-
dience that Washington gave
sound advice when he recon-
mended for the then struggling
United States a small standing
army and a large citizens reserve
who would be trained to fight in
(See HOLIDAY, Page A-3.)