Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-30
Legion Departments
Favor Breaking Off
Relations With Soviet

Relations With Soviet
A heavy ground swell" Of SEN
timent in favor Of severing dip
lomatic relations with Russia
has shown up in resolutions sent
to the American Legion conven-
ton for action here this week
by Legion departments all over
the country.
Rogers Kelley. Of Edinburg.
Tex. head Of the Legion's For
eigp Relations Commission, said
"a Of the n resolutions in the
foreign affairs field deal with
breaking relations with the So
Wet or with Russia and Its sa-
tellites.
Another set OF highly ex-
plosive" resolutions demand that
either Russia be forced out Of
the United Nations or that the
United States leave the y. N. it
self. Mr.. Kelley said.
Report Due Wednesday.
He said q committee named
today must consider the resolu-
tons and report to convention
delegates for a vote on the bills"
Wednesday, and urged Legion
leaders to give what advice they
can to the committee after most
careful consideration"
He made the plea to the Le-
gion's National Executive Com
mittee yesterday, when perma-
nent commission chairmen gave
briefing on the major policy
matters to come before the dele
gates. The powerful executive
committee. made up mostly OF
Legion elder statesmen. rules the
big veterans group between con-
ventions.
Mr.. Kelley said the number Of
resolutions calling for drastic &C
ton against Russia shows the
ground swell Of Legion feeling
on these matters" Without max
Ing personal recommendation.
he told the committee that I'VE
have a crisis confronting US in
connection with these two and
some other sets Of resolutions. I"
If the convention committee con-
sidering them doesn't have good
advice. he said. there's no telling
what will happen"
His group did not recommend
an executive committee stand on
any foreign relations proposals.
In connection with some, how
ever. he noted that the Legion
already is firmly against admis-
sion Of Red China to the U. N.
and was firmly for q ConStitu-
tional amendment as envisioned
by the controversial Bricke
amendment.
Urges Priority for UNIT.
In another report. Seaborn p.
Collins Of Las Cruces, N. Mex,
head Of the permanent National
Security Commission, urged that
universal military training be
given the ton priority. in the
Legion's legislative program next
year.
Mr.. Seaborn.. slated to be
elected the new national COM
mander this week. said the Ma
tons top military leaders in
talks to his group "all recognize
the Importance of UNIT now"
The concensus seems to be
that we have an excellent chance
-. when Congress sets to renew
and extend the present Selective
Service Act in 1885," he said.
The executive committee ap-
proved the UNIT report.
Ohicial Sounds Warning.
Another Legion leader said the
Legion has been spreading itself
too thin and urged it to take
policy stands only on "the major
issues"
To-day there is scarcely any
major legislation in Congress in
which we are not positioned one
way or another" said Jerome
F. D,lggan, chairman of the Ma
tlonal Legislative Commission.
Denounces Congressman.
On other commission reports
or resolutions. the National Ex-
ecutive COMMITTEES:
!. Denounced an attack by
Representative Phillips, Repun-
lican, of California, on Legion
Legislative Director Miles d.
Kennedy and demanded a pub
lie apology from Mr.. Phillips to
the American Legion"
Mr.. Phillips repeatedly has
written that Mr.. Kennedy put
the Legion ION the side of homo
sexuals and subversives" in OBJ
posing a House rider which would
nave permitted some Govern
ment heads to summarily dis
miss security suspects. The Le-
glon opposed it on grounds that
IL clrcumvented veterans pref
erence rights.
2. Heard Legion Rehabilita.