Show Pickets Pray at Confab I II I NEW NB YORK March 25 UP UPi UP IP- I i Hundreds of pickets pickeL sang patriotic patriotic patri patri- otic olic songs and prayed as they marched at the Astoria Waldorf-Astoria hotel Friday in protest against the cultural and scientific conference for world peace A crowd estimated by police at persons encouraged the demonstrators demonstrators demonstrators dem dem- who at times numbered about The pickets carried draped flags of Soviet dominated countries in front of the fashionable fashionable fashionable fashion fashion- able Park avenue hotel The demonstration started with only 25 in line at the thc moment foreign foreign foreign for for- eign delegates to the conference sessions began a news conference in 10 the hotel The three-day three world peace sessions which begin Friday night have been described by the thc state department as a sounding board for Communist propaganda The number of demonstrators grew rapidly and reached shortly after noon Many tany wore the colorful native costumes of European European European Euro Euro- countries A woman woman led the pickets in singing sing sing- I ing The Star-Spangled Star Banner and then chanted a prayer The Themen Themen Themen men voiced supplications of a litany litany lit lit- any calling for freedom for people in enslaved countries of Europe and the women gave the responses The men and women placed their banners on the sidewalk knelt and said the Lords Prayer and the Hail Mary A. A A. A of the Soviet delegation told the news conference conference confer confer- ence that the world peace session I plans would prevent the Russians from accepting an invitation of the National Association of Man Man- to t to visit Am American triton b 11 i trial plants t The invitation made by Wi We F. F Bennett of Salt Lake City president had been through the Soviet embassy said it had only just received j. j Dr Harlow Shapley conte chairman who served as metor me nto motor tor at the news session said that we wc hope to take not on orul ohi Russian delegation but all ou w eign guests on an extended of the country J J secretary gener genes the secretariat of the Soviet Writers answered on one question of newsmen Russia is not rearming See Page Pago 5 Cob Coll PEACE CONFAB Continued from Page One said She is demobilized in all ages of her army and her army is isan isan isan an arm army of peaceful standing Dmitri noted Russian Russian Russian Rus Rus- sian composer attended the news conference but had nothing to say was one of several foreign foreign foreign for for- eign delegates presented to newsmen newsmen newsmen news news- men by Dr Harlow Shapley Harvard Harvard Harvard Har Har- vard astronomer and chairman of the pe peace ce sessions Scores U. U S. S Action William Villiam 0 O. O British philosopher and the only delegate from England to obtain a vistor's visa said the state department action in denying visas to his four fellow delegates was fantastic I 1 suppose they let me in because because because be be- cause they think Im I'm harmless he said Well U I am harmless One hundred policemen were on hand but there was no disorder One high police official remarked that The best thing that could I happen would be that the pickets would police themselves and there i would be no need for police I O Ore e marcher carried a sign showing showing showing show show- ing Cardinal behind barbed wire and bore a quotation from the cardinal My enemies can take from me no more than my life and that has already been given to God Avowed purpose of the three- three day conclave described by the state department as an outlet for Communist propaganda is to seek seck means for furthering international cooperation tion Noting unofficial reports that unrestricted picketing would be permitted the sponsoring group group- the National Council of Arts Sciences Sciences Sciences and Professions wired Professions wired Police Police Police Po Po- lice Commissioner William P P. OBrien O'Brien Ve We fully respect the right of free assembly but we also insist that you use the full authority of your office to assure that the thousands thousands thou thou- sands of distinguished citizens as aswell aswell aswell I well as the renowned artists and scientists who are the guests of our country will be able to attend the sessions of the conference without interference The message was signed by O. O John former assistant U. U S S. S attorney general and now head of I the councils council's executive committee |