Evening star., 1953-10-23
Firestone Backs U. N.
As Only Instrument
For World Peace

IL WOulQ De uIlWlSe TO aDanQOn
the original purposes of the
United Nations simply because
they have not yet been fully at
tanned, Harvey S. Firestone, jr.,
chairman of the current United
Nations Week observance, cau-
toned last night.
The observance, which was
proclaimed by President Eisen-
hover, ends tomorrow, United
Nations Day. Millions of per-
sons have participated in the
ceremonies, marking the day in
1945 when the U. N. Charter
came into force. The Commits
sionerS proclaimed the local OBJ
servance. Some 800 exercises are
expected to take place tomorrow
in the Washington Metropolitan
Area.
Mr.. Firestone, who is chairman
of the Firestone Tire & Rubber
Co., spoke at a public meeting
of the District Committee for
United Nations Week, held in the
Pan American Union Building.
Unwise to Drop It.
He said that while it must be
conceded the organization has
failed so far in certain respects,
1t would not be wise to drop it.
1T would be wrong to con-
demn or disown the United Ma
tionS for not reaching, within a
few short years, the objectiveS
which men and nations for CEN
turieS have Striven to attain, "he
declared.
ITO find fault when fault ex-
lists, to point to failure where
failure has occurred, is fair and
desirable. But to examine only
the negative side of the picture
is to fall short of a full ap-
praisal of the United Nations.
That is not fair. It is not de-
sTable. And it could be danger
GUS"
Mr.. Firestone added that it
Is a dangerous delusion" to
think that peace can just hap
pen. that we can sit back and
expect it to turn up in response
to an advertisement in some
lost and found column of inter-
national morality"
Lone Course Not Practical.
He added that those who
would have the United States
go it alone" politically, eco
nomically or morally, ARE no
more practical than the ostrich
which buries its head in the
sand"
In these days of constantly
shrinking distances and inter.
continental travel, for bombs as
well as people and in both di-
rectionS, how else can we organ
ize for peace except on an inter-
national basis?" the speaker
asked. And if we do not use
the United Nations, what instru-
mentality do we have?"
Mr.. Firestone said many of the
activities of the U. N. are too
little known but that taken to-
gether, they add up to a clear
picture of progress toward peace.
THE aim of all the activities
Of United Nations Week." he said,
lis to turn the spotlight of
truth and fact upon the dark
areas of doubt and misunder-
standing concerning the United
Nations. Without the United
Nations, we have no forum where
the countries of the world can
work out problems with words in
stead of fighting them out with
guns"
Braniff Introduces.
Mr.. Firestone was introduced
by Thomas E. Braniff, airline
president and national co-chair-
man of the National Conference
OF Christians and Jews.
Others on the program includ-
ed DurWard V. Sandifer, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State for
U. NJ affairs, and Mrs. Carmel
Darlington Mari, adviser to
Henry Cabot Lodge, United
States Delegate to the U. N.
Ted Koop, president of the
National Press Club, was master
of ceremonies. Maj. Hugh Curry
directed the Army Band orches-
ira in a musical program and
accompanied Cantor Jacob Bar
ken, of Adas Israel Congregation,
in vocal selections. Msgr. E.
Robert Arthur gave the invoca-
ton and DR.. Frederick ReisSig,
the benediction. John T. O'Brien
is District chairman for the To-
cal citizens committee of the
observance,