On October 1, 1963, for example, National Commander Foley sent President Kennedy a telegram to express the opposition of The American Legion to the sale of American wheat to Russia. He based the statement directly on Resolution No. 258, of the 1963 Convention, wherein the Legion resolved to continue to oppose "any trade between the United States and any Communist, Communist-dominated, or Communist-affiliated country." Concerning the wheat deal, Commander Foley said as follows:

"Until such time as the Soviet Union gives clear evidence of a materially changed attitude toward us and other free peoples, including positive steps to reduce the danger of world conflict over such trouble spots as Cuba, Berlin, and Southeast Asia, we believe there is no reasonable or moral justification for the normalization of trade between the United States and the Communist world.

"Prior to a showing of good faith by the Communist leadership along these lines, we fear that the sale of wheat to Russia can only open the door to increased pressures for trade of other United States goods and materials to Communist nations, and may well tend to lessen the will of our allies to restrict the export of their strategic items to such nations."

Already it appears that the fear expressed concerning the possible effect of the wheat deal on our allies has proven valid, particularly with regard to their trade with Cuba and with the satellite nations of eastern Europe.

On July 28, 1964, Commander Foley wrote to Secretary of State Dean Rusk to commend the action taken by the Organization of American States relative to sanctions against Castro's Cuba. The OAS resolution paralleled closely the Legion's own statement of policy towards Cuba, as set forth in 1963 Convention Resolution No. 414. The Commander expressed the Legion's concern over Cuba and congratulated Secretary Rusk for the role he played in bringing about the OAS resolution.

On August 5, 1964, Commander Foley sent President Johnson a telegram placing the Legion on record as giving "full support" to the limited retaliatory action taken by U.S. forces against North Viet Nam's fleet of PT boats. In his message to the President, the Commander said: "By your quick response the world knows the United States will not be intimidated. We pledge continued support to whatever measures may be deemed necessary to defend freedom." This pledge was entirely in keeping with the Legion's position on Communist aggression everywhere, and particularly as concerns the free nations of Southeast Asia.

Meetings of the Foreign Relations Commission

The four business meetings held by the Commission during the report year were as follows:

(1) September 6-7, 1963: Eighteen members of the Commission and six members of the Inter-American Committee met on two days in the Fleur De Lis Room of the Fontainbleau Hotel, Miami Beach, Fla., immediately preceding the 45th Annual National Convention. Walter Alessandroni, Chairman, Norbert Schmelkes, and Gilberto Font of the NEC Liaison Subcommittee were also present. The Commission considered and took action on a number of pending matters. It also made a preliminary analysis of the 77 resolutions dealing with foreign relations problems which had been referred to the National Convention from 26 American Legion Department Conventions, and which were to be assigned to the convention's Committee on Foreign Relations for study and recommendation. A brief report on this meeting was delivered by the chairman of the Commission to the preconvention meeting of the National Executive Committee, on Sunday, September 8, 1963, held in the Fontainbleau Hotel.

(2) October 14-15, 1963: A six-member executive subcommittee of the Commission met in National Headquarters, Indianapolis, Ind., on two days prior to the Fall 1963 meeting of the National Executive Committee. This included the chairman and vice-chairman of the Commission, and the chairman of the InterAmerican Committee. Norbert Schmelkes (Mexico) of the NEC Liaison Subcommittee also was present. Action was taken on a number of pending referred resolutions, as reported in the chairman's statement to the NEC meeting of October 16-18, 1963. No new resolutions were developed at that time for NEC consideration inasmuch as the Commission believed that the resolutions adopted by the 1963 convention, plus those still in force from previous conventions, adequately covered the then existing international situation.

(3) March 3, 4, and 5, 1964: A three-day meeting of the Commission was held in conjunction with the Fourth Annual Washington Conference of The American Legion in Washington, D.C. All business sessions took place in the Adams Room of the Sheraton-Park Hotel. Ten members of the Commission and two members, including the chairman, of the Inter-American Committee attended. Also present were: National Commander's Representative Daniel C. Hartbauer (Pennsylvania), and NEC Liaison Subcommittee members George A. Black (Canal Zone), Douglas D. Kramer (Idaho), and Norbert Schmelkes (Mexico). The meetings were presided over by Vice-Chairman Marcoux, in the absence of Chairman Thomas E. Whelan, who was on tour in the Far East. The agenda included a half-day's visit to the Department of State where the Commission was privileged to receive a series of special briefings by high officials of the Department. The Commission's program also included addresses by: United States Senators Bourke B. Hickenlooper of Iowa, and Frank Church of Idaho; His Excellency Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa, Ambassador of Nicaragua, and Dean of the Washington Diplomatic Corps; and Mr. Ward P. Allen, Director of InterAmerican Regional Political Affairs, Department of State, and Alternate Representative of the United States on the Council of the Organization of American States. The Commission also received a number of staff reports and took action on seven pending resolutions as indicated in its advance report to the NEC meeting of April 30-May 1, 1964.

(4) April 28-29, 1964: A three-member executive subcommittee, consisting of the chairman and vice chairman of the Commission, and the chairman of the Inter-American Committee, met on two days in the Indianapolis Headquarters, just preceding the spring 1964, meeting of the National Executive Committee. Four pending resolutions were acted upon at that time. This included preparation of one of these for the favorable consideration of the NEC, as set forth in the chairman's report to that body's meeting of April 30-May 1, 1964.

Conclusion

The past year has been marked by a growing interest in and appreciation of the foreign policy views of The American Legion, particularly as concerns the entire range of East-West, or "cold war" issues. Correspondence and inquiries have been heaviest on the topics of disarmament and the nuclear test-ban treaty, with the deepening Southeast Asian crisis running a close second. Considerable interest has also been shown in the Legion's thinking on how to deal with the Castro regime in Cuba; on the continuing importance of the Monroe Doctrine; on U.S.-Panamanian relations (especially as concerns our rights in the Canal Zone); on trade with the Communist countries; and on the ever-present question of Red China's drive to take over Free China's seat in the United Nations.

The positions established on these and other international problems at the last national convention have been effective guidelines for the work of the standing Foreign Relations Commission and its staff throughout the year. A conscious effort has been made to improve the Commission's informational files and library, and to insure a continuing inflow of current data and materials on all foreign relations topics of interest to the Legion. The degree of our success in this endeavor may be measured by the increasing number of students, teachers, and others who are turning to our facilities for research purposes. In addition, more and more Members of Congress are discovering that the Legion can be a positive source of factual information and support on subjects involving foreign relations. The Foreign Relations Commission has sought also to increase its effectiveness in the dissemination of information about the Legion's program to departments and interested Legionnaires, both through regular Legion publications and through the recently developed, and annually updated brochure on the Foreign Relations program. This brochure is available in quantity for distribution at Legion "colleges," and is designed to assist posts to develop their own foreign relations program.

The individual members of the Foreign Relations Commission have continued their efforts to improve their knowledge and understanding of the international problems of concern to the United States. A number of them and of the InterAmerican Committee participated, together with members of the National Security Commission, in The American Legion Military and Diplomatic Far East and Global Tour, May 5 through June 5, 1964. Seventy-eight legionnaires, including National Commander Foley, took part in the Far East portion of the tour, ending at Hong Kong, and 47 continued on around the world. Participation was at the personal expense of the members.

The tour was for the purpose of visiting military installations, particularly in the Pacific, and diplomatic missions around the globe. Intensive briefings were received by the group from Defense and State Department officials at every stop. The information and impressions gained on this tour by the participating members will doubtless be of great assistance and benefit to them in their continuing efforts to improve and advance The American Legion's Foreign Relations program.

INTER-AMERICAN COMMITTEE

Henry H. Dudley, Nebraska, Chairman

Subcommittees of the Inter-American Committee were authorized to attend and participate in the meetings of the Foreign Relations Commission in Miami Beach, Fla., September 6-7, 1963, and in Washington, D.C., March 3, 4, and 5, 1964. The chairman also attended the Commission's two meetings in National Headquarters during the report year. Since the work of the committee on those occasions formed an integral part of the Commission's deliberations, a separate report from that given above by the chairman of the Foreign Relations Commission is considered to be unnecessary.

LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION

Clarence C. Horton, Alabama, Chairman

Clarence H. Olson, Montana, Director

FOREWORD

This 1964 Annual Report embraces the period July 20, 1963-August 20, 1964, inclusive. Early cutoff date is required to meet printing deadlines. This report disloses that all major legislative proposals of The American Legion were properly introduced in Congress. Support was given to other legislation on the basis of long-term policy in the absence of specific mandates. Examples are: Public Law 88-450 (H.R. 8009) which authorizes a nursing home type care program to care tional opportunity for otherwise eligible children of veterans who suffer total and permanent service-connected disabilities, and Public Law 88-445, protecting service-connected disabled veterans against reduction in VA disability ratings when same have been in effect for 20 years.

One of our most noteworthy achievements is the enactment of Public Law 88-150 (H.R. 8009) which authorizes a nursing home type care program to care for certain veterans who have received maximum hospital benefits. Progress on H.R. 1927 to amend present pension laws was made with unanimous House approval of same. At time of writing this report, the bill is under consideration by the Senate Finance Committee where hearings have been held. There is strong hope for its approval.

Considering the foregoing and numerous other enactments as a result of The American Legion's effort, this has been a most satisfactory legislative year.

This report is directed primarily to legislative developments; it does not detail the daily tasks of your Commission and staff in the furtherance of our legislative goals. Neither does it go beyond summarizing the negative positions of our organization in opposing legislative weakening of civil service and veterans' preference, liberalizing immigration statutes, nor our efforts in behalf of appropriations for the agencies of government such as the VA, FBI, Veterans' Employment Service, etc.

Meetings of the National Legislative Commission

(1) The Commission met on September 6–7, 1963, in Miami Beach. A report on same was made to the preconvention meeting of the National Executive Committee on September 8, 1963.

(2)) An executive subcommittee met in Indianapolis on October 14-15, 1963, to participate in the formulation of the legislative program to be presented to the second session of the 88th Congress. A report thereon was made to the NEC October 18, 1963. (See pp. 32-36 of the NEC proceedings.)

(3) The full Commission met in Washington, D.C., on March 3-5, 1964, in connection with the Fourth Annual Washington Conference. A detailed report of this meeting is contained in the advance report of the Commission to the NEC on April 30, 1964. (See pp. 67-73 of the NEC proceedings.)

(4) An executive subcommittee of the Commission met in Indianapolis on April 28-29, 1964. Details of this meeting were also reported to the NEC on April 30, 1964. (See pp. 67-73 of the NEC proceedings.)

Appreciation

On behalf of the National Legislative Commission, and its staff, we express sincere appreciation to National Commander Daniel F. Foley for his excellent counsel and leadership which contributed so much to the legislative achievements in this Congress. We also acknowledge the splendid cooperation received from the other national officers, the National Executive Committee, the national headquarters staff, and the chairmen and members of the several national commis

sions. The publisher, editor, and staff of the American Legion Magazine have been of inestimable aid. A special thanks goes out to thousands of loyal Legionnaires for the direct support to our program rendered through countless communications to Members of Congress.

The American Legion Auxiliary, under the leadership of National President Mrs. Luther D. Johnson and her National Legislative Committee Chairman, Mrs. A. J. "Gen" Ryan are deserving of the warm thanks of all of us. The American Legion Auxiliary has been "up front" in all of our struggles leading to legislative achievements.

We commend the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Senate Committees on Finance and Labor and Public Welfare for their appreciation of the needs of the veterans and their dependents and for the actions taken by them to relieve those needs. Without their understanding and leadership our efforts would have gone for naught.

While this has been an outstanding legislative year, we again remind you that future legislative successes will depend largely upon the merit of our proposals as well as the degree of interest and cooperation extended by our membership at large. The legislative revitalization of the past 2 years has demonstrated its value in the cause of that which is right. With added growth and strengthening of that concept, the success of our future legislative endeavors may be reasonably assured.

National Legislative Bulletin

There is no question but that the National Legislative Bulletin is an effective instrument in our legislative work. While we are pleased to report that 1964 subscriptions to the Bulletin exceeded those of 1963 in both The American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, we are disappointed that it does not reach every post and unit. Increases this year are largely due to the excellent work of Mrs. Maurice Kubby of the American Legion Auxiliary's National Legislative Committee and of Mr. Walter "Pinky" Barnard of the National Legislative Commission.

Americanism

Freedom Train II, support legislation to authorize

Resolution 13-NEC, May 1963

For previous action see 1963 report.

Authorize use of funds obtained from sale of enemy alien assets to provide scholarships for veterans' children

Resolution 21-NEC, October-November 1962

No Congressional action.

Require loyalty oath and criminal penalties for violation thereof in connection with any student scholarships or loans in which Federal funds are involved Resolution 22—NEC, October-November 1962.

For previous action see 1963 report.

Public Law 88-129; approved September 24, 1963, passed over our opposition. Urges U.S. Senate investigation of UNESCO activities and action to stop those found inimical to U.S. security

Resolution 38-1963

No Congressional action.

Permit prayers and Bible reading in public schools

Resolution 43-NEC, April-May 1964 (Res. 25—1963 and Res. 25-1962)

For previous action see 1963 report.

H.J. Res. 693, September 10, 1963, Representative Becker, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States allowing the offering, reading from, or listening to prayers or biblical scriptures, on a voluntary basis, in any governmental or public school, institution, or place.

Discharge Petition No. 3; The American Legion supported this discharge petition which if successful, would have brought H.J. Res. 693 directly to the floor of the House, without further committee action. It requires 218 signatures of Members of the House of Representatives.