Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-16

Geneva Spirit Flags as I'd Meeting Nears

UNESCO and urged that al public
American support be withdrawn
from the organization.
The Legion did not ten the public
last week what 1t had against
UNESCC. The resolution itself
contained no specific charges. and
there was no explanation Of the
resolution and no debate--before
1t was approved overwhelmingly on
voice vote.
But the resolution implies the
Legion believes UNEsCo propounds
world citizenship. and adherence
to q nebulous world government In
American schools and disseminates
"subyersive educational materials
in the schools.
Looking q little farther into the
Legion's antipathy toward UNESCO
one finds this picture: First. the
great bulk Of Legion members IRE
vastly disinterested In the Wtole
controversy. Second, Q relatively
few Legionnaires believe UNESCO
Is q pro-Communist outfit that
wants to take over American
schools and breaches the hated
doctrine Of "one-worldism"
philosophy whose name came from
q book by Legionpaire Wendell L.
Willkie. Third, there Is another
small group which believes that
UNESCO is serving American in-
terests by stimulating education ID
underdeyeloped countries. that
uNESCO does not In any way try
to interfere with American edlca-
ton and that the group should b
supported by e-Legion.
The anti-UNESCo faction has
picked up criticism first leveled BY
the American Flag COMMITTEES, 3
one-man outfit run by one w. Hen-
~ MacFarland, r.. who also headed
an organization ltlle Nationalist
Action League) on the Attorney
Generals subversive list. Mr.. Mac
Farland took : good many quota
tions from UNE5Co publications
out Of context. inisinterpreted
others, and distorted the UNEsCO
role In education thereby making
the organization look very black
indeed.
Legicn's Action
When the UNEsCo question
came up at the Legion convention
last week it was referred to 8 SUBJ
committee. Legionnaires who at.
tended the subcommittee meetings
said 1t was battle between two
documents. One was q lengthy re-
port on UNE6CO prepared by 8
specially appointed group Of former
Legion officers. II said past cfiti-
cisna 81 uNESCO was unfounded
and took 81 the old allegations
apart one hy one. The other re-
port. prepared by the stan of the
National Americauisn Commission
Of the Legion. attacked UNESCO.
basing Its arguments on the ma.
teriai originally used BY Mr.. Mac
Farland.
The first group recommended the
Legion withdraw its past criticism
Of UNE6CO and cooperate with 1t.
The second group urged the criti-
cisrn be reafirmed.
The anti-UNESCo group won By
3 wide margin both In COMMITTEES
and on the floor.
Where does that leave UEESCOf
Battered again, but not bowed.
UNEscois Reaction
The organization looked at the
Miami defeat In this way: The
criticism (which, incidentally. was
ordered by the convention to b
made public was not new and
therefore wouldn't do much addi-
tional damage. The lopsided ad-.
verse vote was attributed mostly
to the average Legionnaire's in
difference and TO the average
Legion officers reluctance to BE-
caught voting yes" on something
that looked like international do
kOO0tSlu.
UNESCO reacted to the defeat
by denying everything and then
turning back to Its long-range pro.
gram Of explaining to the world
Just what 1t Is really trying to do.
It win try to spread the word that
{ it sets up educational projects only
on the request Of the country con-
cerned and that 1t never has pre-
pared any material for use In
American ciassroorns Though some
I educators have chosen To use
UNESCO publications In schools
/ ilere)
The outlook for 3 reversal OF
the Legion decision is not favorable.
SO it would do UNESCo little good
to beat its head against the waH
again In the near future. Ihe
proup doesn't plan to try.