WORK FOR PEACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 304, 26 December 1939, Page 7

WORK FOR PEACE.

AMERICAN ENVOY.

Mr. Roosevelt Sends Letter To

Pope.

" TERMINATE DESTRUCTION."

United Press -Association.—Copyright.

XEW "V ORK, December 25.

President Roosevelt has appointed - r. Myron C. Taylor, a prominent lawyer and corporation director, his personal representative at Vatican City, with the rank of Ambassador but without portfolio, says a message from Washington. Mr. Taylor who will further the common endeavours for peace, is a Protestant.

In a letter to His Holiness Mr. Roosevelt said: "At present there is no »piiitual or civil leader to ,proceed with a specific plan to terminate destruction and build anew. Yet the time for that will surely come. "It is therefore my thought that it would be well that we should encourage closer association between those throughout the world—those in religion and°in Go\ eminent who have a common purpose. 1 "I am therefore suggesting to Your Holiness that it would be a satisfaction to me to send a personal representative to the Vatican in order that our parallel endeavours for peace and the alleviation of suffering: niay be assisted. "When the time comes for the reestablishment of world peaue on a. surer foundation, it will be of the utmost importance to humanity and to religion that common ideals should be expressed unitedly. Furthermore, great problems of practical import will then face all the millions of people of all races and nationalities that they may seek new lives by migration or re-cstablisliment in their old homes. Here also common ideals will seek parallel action. "I trust, therefore, that all the world's Churches believing in a common God will throw their influence into this great cause. To you, whom I have the privilege of calling good friend and old friend, lr.y respectful greetings." Similar letters were sent to Mr. George Buttrick, president of the United States Federal Council of Churches of Christ, and Rabbi Cyrus Adler. The appointment of Mr. Taylor is regarded as part of Mr. Roosevelt's pre paration for a serious effort to brin tr about peace, says the Washington correspondent of the "Xew York Times." Washington believes that, unless hostilities are ended by the sprint, Europe's war machines will be unleashed in earnest. The appointment of Mr. Taylor does not constitute a resumption of diplomatic relations with the Vatican, which were- terminated by Congress on July 18, but it will be as effective for Mr. Roosevelt's purposes.