PURCHASE OF UNITED NATIONS BONDS TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1962 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D.C. The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:40 a.m., in room G-3, U.S. Capitol, Hon. Thomas E. Morgan (chairman of the committee) presiding. Chairman MORGAN. The committee will come to order. The committee meets this morning for the continuation of the hearings on S. 2768, purchase of United Nations bonds. Our first witness this morning is Gen. Pedro del Valle, representing the American Coalition of Patriotic Societies, Inc. General, you have a letter here which you wish to read and then to proceed with an oral statement? STATEMENT OF GEN. PEDRO DEL VALLE, REPRESENTING THE AMERICAN COALITION OF PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES, INC. General DEL VALLE. That is all the statement I want to make right here. I am representing the coalition. I am president of the Defenders of the American Constitution, which is an associate of the coalition. The president of the American Coalition of Patriotic Societies not being here, I am taking his place. Chairman MORGAN. You may proceed, sir. General DEL VALLE. The American Coalition of Patriotic Societies, Inc., of about 100 patriotic, civic, and fraternal organizations, at its 33d annual convention meeting at the Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C., February 1, 1962, adopted the following resolution in opposition to the purchase of United Nations bonds by the United States: RESOLUTION No. 8-UNITED NATIONS BONDS Whereas the United Nations proposes to issue bonds in the amount of $200 million; and Whereas the President of the United States has declared himself in favor of the purchase by the U.S. Government of at least one-half of the aforesaid bond issue and has stated his intention to recommend to the Congress that this purchase be approved; and Whereas the soundness of such an investment has been questioned by many informed citizens, including the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, who has declared that the purchase of these U.N. bonds "would be unsound under any and all tests for prudent financial investment”; and Whereas the American Coalition of Patriotic Societies is convinced that the United Nations, having failed to adhere to the principles set forth in its charter, should receive no further financial aid in any form from the American people whose interests it has so badly served; Resolved, That the American Coalition of Patriotic Societies, petitions the Congress of the United States to reject the recommendation of the President to purchase United Nations bonds. In our financial system bonds are only issued when there are assets to back them. The United Nations has no assets. For it to issue bonds is a fraud. For the Congress of the United States to agree to buy these bonds of the United Nations would be compounding a fraud on the American people by the representatives of the sovereign people, who must earn every dollar that the Congress loans or gives away. Our debts and obligations are already enormous as the committee and the Congress well know. The United Nations is a failure on the record. The United Nations is already bankrupt morally as well as financially. Let us not try to rebuild it on the same old sand foundation on which the leagues of history have failed. Only a free, solvent United States can hope to light the way for ourselves, our posterity, and the world's oppressed people. For these and other reasons that have already been brought out in debate and by other witnesses, the American Coalition of Patriotic Societies opposes the purchase of United Nations bonds by the United States. Chairman MORGAN. Thank you, General. General, you show on the top of your letterhead "American Coalition of Patriotic Societies." How many societies belong to this coalition? General DEL VALLE. I will let Mrs. Leetch furnish that. SOCIETIES COOPERATING WITH THE AMERICAN COALITION OF PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES, Alliance, Inc., The. INC., WASHINGTON, D.C. American Coalition of New York. American Institute, The. American Public Relations Forum, Inc. American War Mothers. Anti-Subversive League of South Dakota. Associated Farmers of California, Inc. Better Government Forum. Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A., Queens County Chapter. Constitutional Study Group of South Dakota, Inc. Dames of the Loyal Legion of the United States. Dames of the Loyal Legion of the United States, District of Columbia. Dames of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Pennsylvania. Daughters of America, National Council. Daughters of America, Clara Barton Council No. 71. Daughters of America, Pride of Baltimore Council No. 14. Daughters of America, District of Columbia Council. Daughters of America, New Jersey Council. Daughters of the Revolution, National Society. Daughters of the Revolution, New Jersey Society. Daughters of the Revolution, New York Society. Daughters of the Revolution, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Daughters of the Revolution, Ex-Officers Club. Defenders of the American Constitution, Inc. Defenders of State Sovereignty and Individual Liberties, Arlington Chapter. Delaware Defenders of the Republic, Inc. Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Farmers Liberty League. Florida Coalition of Patriotic Societies. Fraternal Patriotic Americans, State of Pennsylvania, Inc. General Society of the War of 1812. General Society of the War of 1812, District of Columbia Division. Grass Roots League, Inc. Junior Order United American Mechanics, New Jersey. Junior Order United American Mechanics, New York. Junior Order United American Mechanics, Pennsylvania. Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of the Potomac. Louisiana Committee of Correspondence. Marine Corps League Auxiliary, Inc. Massachusetts and Rhode Island Committees of Correspondence. Michigan Coalition of Constitutionalists. Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery-in-Chief. Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery of the District of Columbia. Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery of the State of New York. Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, Commandery of the State of Pennsylvania. Military Order of the World Wars. Minnesota Coalition of Patriotic Societies, Inc. National Huguenot Society, The. National Service Star Legion, Inc. National Society, Congress of States Societies. National Society for Constitutional Security. National Society for Constitutional Security, Chapter I. National Society for Constitutional Security, Chapter II. National Society for Constitutional Security, Chapter III. National Society, Daughters of the Union, 1861-1865. National Society, Magna Charta Dames. National Society of New England Women. National Society of New England Women, New York City Colony. National Society, Patriotic Women of America, Inc. National Society, Patriotic Women of America, District of Columbia Council. National Society, Patriotic Women of America, New York Council. National Society, Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims. National Society, U.S. Daughters of 1812, State of New York. National Society, Women Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. National Sojourners, Inc. National Women's Relief Corps. National Women's Relief Corps, Department of Potomac. Naval and Military Order of the Spanish-American War, National Commandery. Network of Patriotic Letter Writers. New Jersey Coalition, Inc. Ohio Coalition of Patriotic Societies. Order of Fraternal Americans, Grand Council. Order of Independent Americans, Inc., State Council of Pennsylvania. Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, California. Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, District of Columbia. Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, Massachusetts. Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, New Jersey. Order of the Founders and Patriots of America, Rhode Island. Order of Washington. Patriotic Order Sons of America, National Camp. Patriotic Order Sons of America, State Camp of Pennsylvania. Society of Old Plymouth Colony Descendants. Sons and Daughters of Liberty, National Council. Sons and Daughters of Liberty, State Council Connecticut. Sons and Daughters of Liberty, State Council District of Columbia. Sons and Daughters of Liberty, State Council Massachusetts. Sons and Daughters of Liberty, State Council Pennsylvania. Sons of the American Revolution, New Jersey Society. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Commandery-in-Chief. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Massachusetts Department. Sovereignty Preservation Council of Delaware. Taxpayers, Inc. Texas Voters for the Constitution. United States Day Committee, Inc. United States Flag Committee. Watch Washington Club. Wheel of Progress, The. William Thaw Council of Americans, Inc. Women of Army and Navy Legion of Valor, U.S.A. Women's National Defense Committee of Philadelphia. Women's Patriotic Conference on National Defense, Inc. Chairman MORGAN. General, your 33d convention was here in Washington, was it? General DEL VALLE. That is correct, the Mayflower. Chairman MORGAN. In 1962, not long after the President announced his message to Congress, about the same time? General DEL VALLE. That is right. Chairman MORGAN. Your convention had representation from all these organizations at your convention? General DEL VALLE. Yes, sir. Chairman MORGAN. This was the resolution General DEL VALLE. Adopted by the resolutions committee and then submitted to the whole, whereupon it was voted unanimously. Chairman MORGAN. Was the resolution adopted unanimously? General DEL VALLE. Yes, sir. Chairman MORGAN. Most of these organizations were represented there? General DEL VALLE. Yes; a large number of them-large percentage. Chairman MORGAN. I have no further questions. Mr. Murphy. Mr. MURPHY. No questions. Chairman MORGAN. Thank you, General. It is very nice to see you. Our next witness is Mr. Ferwerda. Mr. Ferwerda represents the National Council of Churches, Department of International Affairs. Mr. Ferwerda, you have a prepared statement, and you may proceed, sir. STATEMENT OF VERNON L. FERWERDA, MEMBER OF DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OF CHRIST IN THE U.S.A. Mr. FERWERDA. My name is Vernon L. Ferwerda. I am testifying here in behalf of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. by the authorization of its appropriate officers. I am currently chairman of the government department at Trinity Col lege, Hartford, and a member of the Department of International Affairs of the National Council of Churches. While I am here as a designated representative of the National Council of Churches, Department of International Affairs, I obviously cannot and do not presume to speak for each of the 40 million members of the 33 Protestant and Eastern Orthodox denominations in the National Council. However, I am presenting policies and views adopted after careful study, discussion, and deliberation by the council's policymaking bodies composed of official representatives of the denominations. May I also call attention to the fact that the Council for Christian Social Action of the United Church of Christ wishes to associate itself with this testimony. The churches in the United States helped to create public opinion favoring the establishment of the United Nations, and church leaders contributed significantly to the shaping of the United Nations Charter. Since that time churchmen have critically, constructively supported the United Nations and have come to its defense when it has been under attack. Consistently the churches and their leaders have been prominent in support for increased use of the United Nations and for strengthening its peacekeeping capabilities. At its most recent meeting in December 1960 the highest governing body of the National Council of Churches, its general assembly, adopted a resolution on "Christian Responsibility for World Community" containing the following significant sections: STRENGTHENING THE UNITED NATIONS BY USING IT Since goodwill is made effective only with organization and practical processes, such as the United Nations provides, Christians should vigorously resist attempts to weaken or bypass it, from whatever source they may arise, and should support efforts to strengthen the United Nations and its specialized agencies and programs. FULFILLING MORE POTENTIALITIES OF THE UNITED NATIONS Thus, we believe it is part of our responsibility as Christians to encourage our own Nation to fulfill its share in the present and future life of the United Nations with a more vigorous leadership in partnership, bringing to the organization all the imagination and sensitivity it can summon, for the sake of the United Nations, and even more for the purposes and principles for which it stands. During its present period of tribulation the United Nations has been vigorously supported by eminent churchmen throughout the United States. Dr. O. Frederick Nolde, former dean of the Graduate School of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and a recognized world leader in international affairs, speaking to an outstanding group of national leaders of the churches, recently asserted: The United States should help to meet the financial emergency of the United Nations by purchasing a substantial number of the bonds which the United Nations is authorized to issue. This plan for immediate financial relief seems to be the best political expedient now available to forestall the operation of a financial veto. President Kennedy's proposed figure of $100 million (one-half the total issue authorized) is reasonable and should be supported. It represents a fantastically minimal extra expenditure in behalf of world peace and justice when compared with the enormous amounts expended or loaned to other countries for military purposes. |