Evening Star Newspaper, September 14, 1930, Page 105

e i THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, SEPTEMBER - 14, 1930. 15 o - — WAR VETERANS SEEK WORLD PEACE Fidac, Holding a World Congress in W ashington This Week, Has Nine Million Members— Nine European Nations to Be chresemed at Lieut. Col. Fred W. Abbot. inter- national president of Fidac. N THE mind of Hubert Aubert, a French journalist, 12 years ago, was conceived the idea of Fidac. Today Fidac is a gigantic federation, num- . bering 9,000,000 soldiers of the World War, dedicated to the cause of peace. This week the representatives of Fidac—the Federation Interallice des Anciens Combattants —meet in Washington to renew the pledges of mutual understanding among the men who fought side by side in the “war to end all wars.” Statesmen, noblemen and military leaders of nine European nations and the United States will gather here to discuss ways of keeping alive the friendships formed on the battlefields. This will be the eleventh annual congress of Fidac and the second to be held in the United States. Eight years ago the congress met in New Orleans, and it was at this session that the foundation was laid for the marvelous growth of the organization. * In New Orleans the representatives of the ex-service men of ten Allied nations signed the famous Fidac Charter, sections of which since have written into almost every international peace and arbitration treaty drafted and approved. It antedated the Kellogg-Briand treaty outlawing war by six years, yet it included most of the principles advanced by this covenant. It -was in New Orleans that the constitution of the Fidac as it stands today was adopted with the follow- ing foreword: “The principal object of the Fidac is to maintain. foster and develop that spirit of comradeship which manifested itself on the battlefields of the World War and to use that comradeship in the cause of peace. Fidac stands aloof from all political parties or sec- tarian denominations. Its constitution is as democratic as the constitutions of its com- ponent members. It supports the governments of its constituent countries and is determined to help those governments in any way that lies within its power, to sze that, in so far as pos- sible, justice is meted out to the war disabled, the widows and orphans, to help in the main- tenance of law and order and generally to assist in obtaining as full a realization as may be possible of ‘the results of the victory achieved in common.” HAT was Hubert Aubert's idea—to insure peace in the world by maintaining it among the Allies. It was an outgrowth ef the French Union Nationale des Combattants. It was a realization that the peace of the world could be in no safer hands than in those of the men who made such great sacrifices that it be won. On July 4, 1920, the French ex-service men finally secured liaison with their British, Italian and Belgian comrades in arms. On the morn- ing of July 5 came this cablegram of acceptance from American Legion headquarters in In- dianapolis: “In crder that our efforts may lead to this fraternity of peoples so indispensable in our days, it depends on us, ex-service men of the ‘World War, to meet and understand each other and when necessary to speak frankly, looking into each other's eyes.” Subsequently, those nations that arose Phoeniklike from the ashes of the war— Poland, Czechoslovakia and Jugoslavia—joined Fidae and, with the addition of Portugal, the federation was complete. But it was not until the New Orleans congress that the dreams of the moving spirits of Fidac was finally incor- porated into a charter. Gradually group after group became affiliated with Fidac until today it numbers, with its woemen’s auxiliary organized six years ago, 105 associit’ons. Most of these associations are in Eurcpe, of course, the American Legion and ithe Legion Auxiliary being the sole constituent members of this country. However, America through the Legion has =lways played a prom- inent part in the ccunsels of Fidac, even though much of the iriportant work that the federation is doing is far removed from the American scene. Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of the A. E. F, has expressed himself thus of the aims of Fidac: *“Tue associations growing out of unsélfish service and common sacrifice in the World War have naturally led to concerted action on the part of the governments and the peoples of the allied nations to secure psrmanent peace for mankind. The constant endeavors of the vetzrans to this end have given encouragement and support to statesmen the - woxid:ever. . Sessio11s. Mayj. Julius 1. Peyser, head of the American Fidac and chairman of the Wash- ¢ ington Congress Committee. Their combined efforts are leading definitely toward that goal we all wish to see attained. Surely we the living could leave no finer memorial to our heroic comrades than a definite understanding among peoples thai the horrors of war shall be no more. “It is a great satisfaction to know that the members of Fidac are still marching forward shoulder ‘to shoulder as they did i those war- torn days. It is hoped that their enthusiasm may never wane until peace is assured throughout the earth. I fervently pray that this consummation may one day be fully realized.” THE spirit of accord which marks the rela- tions of Fidac members is noted in the correspondence received by Maj. Julius I. Pey~ ser, chairman of the Washington Fidac com- mittee. Here are a few samples of the senti- ments expressed. From Jugoslavia: “I and my friends of the Jugoslavian Fidac will have the great pleas- ure to visit again your great and splendid country, which stands at the head of all humanity in regards to social progress.” From France: “The friendship of France for the United States, of French ex-service men for the American Legion, constitutes one of our principal aims. The French gdelegation will never forget the links which bind us together.” Prominent Legionnaires have always at- tended the Fidac sessions in various lands, and have returned familiarized with the recon- struetion. problems that . confront ‘these nations. Photo by Underwood & Underwood. When the American Legion held its conven- tion in Paris in 1027 it was the Fidac that arranged the entertainment of the yeterans and conducted the tours to the battlefields. But Fidac does a great deal more than bring together the leading members of the most important ex-service men's organizations for a discussion of their common problems. It has taken active steps in Europe to combat the spread of communism; it has acted as inter- mediary when strained relations arose between member nations. For a long time there was considerable friction between France and ltalyl For four years Fidac worked incessantly to ameliorate this situation. It brought into personal contact at its headquarters in Paris leaders of the ex-service men’'s movement who had influence with their governments. A press and lecture campaign was promoted through the veterans' associations of France and Italy, and the improved relation now between these two Latin nations is largely due to their efforts. Similarly Jugoslavia and Italy have mis- understood each other e'ght years and Fidac has done much to smooth out their difficulties. MANY of the members of Fidac hold high government positions. In Italy, a man who later was president of the Fidac, Nicola Sansanelli, becamme the first general secretary of the Fascist party. In Poland the members of Fidac rallied around their old leader, Marshal Pilsudski, to defeat the invading Red armies at the very pates of Wabsaw. Coming Princess Alexandrine Cantacuzene o! Rumania, international president of Fidac Auxiliary. as a delegate to the Washington congrese is Lieut. Marie Zaleska, one of the numerous. Polish women who answered Pilsudski's plea for volunteers in 1920. Among the other delegates to the Washing- ton congress are such men as Lieut. Col. Fred W. Abbot of Great Britain, president,of Fidac; Gen. Sir Jan Hamilton, famous British cams paigner; Baron Roger-Marie d’Avigneau, thrica wounded and cited for exceptional bravery: Lieut. Gen. Raoul Pontus, chief of artillery for Belgium during the war; Comte Charles de Hemricourt de Grunne, a descendant of Gen. Lafayette; Maj. Gen. Beauchamp J. Doran of Britain, Signor Gianni Baccarini, vice presi- dent of Fidac for Italy; Conte de Chanaz of Italy, Maj. Jan Ludyga-Laskowski, attache of the minister of war of Poland and com- mander-in-chief of the Polish insurrection: Gen. Romain Gorecki, assistant minister of war of Poland; Capt. Ruy Scherley Periera, a vice consul for Portugal; Dr. Virgil Serdaru, president of the Rumanian ex-service men's association; Gen. Rujinsky of Rumania, Gen. Otakar Husak, former minister of war of Czechoslovakia: Col. Joseph Vavroch of Czecho- slovakia, Dr. Charles Pergler, member of the Czech Parliament, and Col. Milan D. Rados- savlievitch, vice president of Fidac for Jugo- slavia. it And the American women who know some- thing, too, of the sacrifices of war alsc have taken up the cause of Fidac and are trying to aid the cause of world peace by a better un- derstanding of American foreign relations. In all the 7,000 units of the Fidac Auxiliary (which is the same as the American Legion Auxiliary) women made it their business this past year to familiarize themselves with the London naval conference and other phases of America’s foreign policy. The Fidac Auxiliary foreign delegates are headed by Princess Alexandrine Cantecuzene of Rumania, prominent for her social service work in behalf of war orphans. Other prominent women to attend the session of the auxiliary include Comtesse de Kerchove de Denteghem and Baronne de Broqueville of Belgium, Madam Jean Goy of France, wife of a member of the Chamber of Deputies, and Lady Edward Spencer-Churchill of England. Four members of the French Parliament, three of the Polish, three of the Rumanian and several Czech legislators are also numbered among the prominent visitors to Washington next Thursday, when the three-day conclave opens. The foreign delegates will be joined by mem- bers of the American Legion, headed by Mayj. Julius I. Peyser, vice-president of Fidac for the United States, and Mrs. Robert Walbridge, head of the American Fidac Auxiliary. Among the Legionnaires who will attend the sessions at Memorial Continental Hall are Col. Lemuel Bolles, who has played an important part in shaping the activities of the Legion since its earliest day; Maj. Edward L. White, Gen. L. R. Gignilliat of Culver Military Institute; Col. Paul V. McNutt, Maj. Paul J. McGahan, Sam W. Reynolds, John J. Wicker, jr.; Ben S. Fisher and Representative Lamar Jeffers, During their three-day stay here the dele- gates will be entertained at the embassies and Jegations. They will witness the conferring cof the Fidac Gold Medal of Recognition and the Portuguese Croix de Guerre on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. They will be guests of the President, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War. They wi'l place wreaths on the tomb of America’s war President. Their stay in Washington will be replete with colorful ceremonies and dis~ tinguished gatherings. Busy S/mngmplzvr:. TENOGRAPHERS seem to have had 12 b months last year, if the output of carbon . paper and inked ribbons can be used as basis for ectimation. The year's total of the prod- : ucts was $16,173,000, which was nearly 15 per cent over the previous tally. " b