Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-31
Byron Price Retires Tomorrow
As u. N. Administrative Chief
Ronkine American
Says Dreumers Cont
Make 1t Succeed
BY the Associoied Press

Secretary General Of the United
Nations. is retiring Monday at
the age of 50 after serving seven
years as the highest ranking
American in the u. N.
In his last days as head of
the U. N. Department of Ad-
miniStrative and Financial Serv-
ices, Mr.. Price disclosed his
broad philosophy about the U. N.
'The U. N. will never succeed
because of the dreamers and the
zealots," he said. IF it succeeds
it will be because of the work of
hard headed men who knew
what they wanted and who
made sacrifices for it. This oper-
ton should be run on a business
basis.
Considering everything that
has happened. it was best for the
u. N. to settle down In New York
City. New York is big. un-
friendly city, where the U. N.
was exposed to the blasts of the
isolationist politicians and press.
1t has gone through that test
very WELL"
Proud Of Two Achievements.
Mr.. Price is proud of two
achievements here.
First. he helped rid the U. N.
of American Communists. for
which he was attacked by the
Reds all around the world.
Second, the U. N. under his
supervision saved 81 million on
its permanent headquarters. Only
two associates knew this until
the work was done.
MIR. Price will retire to q small
home in Chestertown, Md. He
looks forward to growing to-
matoes and cutting grass. He
has refused several tempting
offers Of positions.
1--WE been an executive since
I became chief of the Wash
ington bureau of the Associated
Press in 1927" Mr.. Price said.
During the Second World War,
1 directed $4,000 people as di-
rector of censorship. always
said could make mistakes OF my
own. Now / want to go and live
with my mistakes for a while"
Mr.. Price planned to leave in
1852 when he reached the age
of so set by the U. N. for retire
ment. But Trygve Lie. then Sec
rotary General, had authority to
make an exception. He asked
Mr.. Price to stay and help with
the various problems. including
the American Reds. Mr.. Price
decided he would not let the
Reds say they had driven him
from Office, so he agreed.
Furor Over Reds in U. N.
He was a central figure in the
Juror over American Communists
in the u. N. Some Americans
charged the organization was
harboring Communists and sub
versives and demanded that Mr..
Lie fire them. Mr.. Lie finally dis
missed some American Commu-
nists on the ground that undue
political activity violated their
status as international civil serv-
ants.
Mr.. Price had been dealing
with a staff committee made up
Of U, N. employees. elected by the
Secretariat workers to represent
them in talks with the Secretary
General. There were some trouble
makers on that committee. Mr..
Price finally read the riot act to
the committee.
II really mean the riot act"
he said. II broke off relations
with them. There were about
five or six American Communists
who refused to answer questions
later about their Affiliations with
the Communist Party. Now they
are out and they are not coming
back.
THE Daily Worker attacked
me on the grounds of conduct
ing a reign Of terror. They
jumped to the attack everywhere,
even so far away as the Peiping
Radio. But. you know. l regard
that as a mark of distinction"
The 81 million saving was an
other matter. Mr.. Price grinned
as he talked about it.
: Mr.. Lie appointed him his