Foreign Support Tied to Intergroup Amity Here, Clinchy Warns

A warning that Americans ability to win the support of the peoples of Europe and Asia will he determined in large measure by its success in promoting better intergroup relations at home was sounded here to night by Dr. Everett C. Clinchy, president of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, in the annual report to. the organization’s 26th annual meeting’s opening session, The criteria of better intergroup relations at home, Dr. Clinchy declared, “may very well determine whether the teeming millions of Europe and Asia will cast their lot with the free world or succumb to the lures of the Moscow hate merchants.”

The report disclosed that last year the organization sponsored 75, 000 programs in the United States through its offices in 62 cities. In addition, according to the report, 30,000 showings of educational films reached 70,000,000 persons, and 2,800,000 pieces of literature were distributed.

The conference issued a statement containing a platform of American action to combat Communism, which included action to “unite in resistance to anti-Protestant, anti-Catholic, or anti-Jewish movements, so that no group need go it alone.” Other principles of action listed included cooperation against intolerance, promotion of human relations, recognition of bigotry as “the internal enemy of the United States,” and unity with “all God-fearing men against the enemies of religion.”

President Eisenhower greeted the conference and told the religious leaders that any group that binds itself together… to discuss ways and means of attempting such goals “is, to my mind, a dedicated, patriotic group that can well take the Bible in one hand and the flag in the other and march ahead.”