Poland Decorates Nathaniel Spear, Jr. for Efforts Toward International Co-operation

The Consul of Poland at Pittsburgh, Jan Lech Byszewski, on August 16 decorated Nathaniel Spear, Jr., of Pittsburgh and New York, vice-president of Spear & Company, with the Chevalier’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was informed yesterday.

In conferring this high honor, bestowed upon Mr. Spear by the President of the Republic of Poland, Consul Byszewski said:

“It is indeed a great honor and my personal pleasure to inform you, that the President of the Republic of Poland, through the Chancellor of the Supreme Chapter of the Order of Polonia Restituta, has seen fit to recognize your untiring efforts to bring about rapprochement and closer cooperation between nations of the world, by bestowing upon you the Chevalier’s Cross of that Order.

“Congratulating you most heartily upon this high distinction, which my country has conferred upon you, I now take pleasure in decorating you, on behalf of the Ambassador of Poland at Washington, with the Chevalier’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity of bestowing this high distinction upon you in the presence of the members of your family, and your good friends and associates, who have honored us with their presence.

“Happy indeed am I, that my country, always mindful of the work of the individual towards the furtherance of World Peace and International Cooperation, has singled you out for reward for your truly constructive work.

“I regard today’s event, which has brought to this Consulate such a distinguished representation of Pittsburgh’s citizens, as another strong link in the chain of traditional friendship which binds the United States with Poland.

“Accept, Mr. Spear, my sincere felicitations and wishes of all success.”

In his reply to Consul Byszewski, Mr. Spear said :

“Through you, as the representative in Pittsburgh of the Republic of Poland, I want to convey to your Government my deep appreciation of the high honor which has been conferred upon me. It is my earnest wish that the bonds of good feeling between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of the United States of America be further strengthened—that Poles and Americans may become more cognizant of the unlimited possibilities for friendship between their respective countries and that these nations may progress toward their fullest development in uninterrupted Universal Peace.”

Mr. Spear, who recently moved to New York City, is chairman of the Pennsylvania Department Foreign Relations Committee of the American Legion, and an officer of the General Staff, Military Order of the World War. He was graduated from Yale in 1919.