EXCERPT FROM LETTER OF                   
 
                  ARCHBISHOP EDWARD MOONEY                  
 
                      TO MYRON TAYLOR                       
 
                     November 30, 1942                      
 
                    IN REGARD TO RUSSIA                     
 
                                                            
 
 
 "What is needed is a constructive suggestion as to what kind   
of a statement on religious freedom would be adequate if the Soviet   
     authorities were disposed to make it and mean it.      
 
                                                            
 
 
 "First of all, it is not thought that any such statement need include an   
explicit reference to the past. A justification of the past would not be   
ted, and a confession can hardly be expected in the circumst
 
                                                            
 
 
"The following might meet the face-saving requirements of the situation   
and constitute a declaration which, if sincerely made, would be meaningful:  
  "'In view of the loyal participation of all our people in, the defense of   
the Fatherland under the direction of constituted authority in the State,   
the Soviet Government, interpreting and applying Article 124 of the U.S.S.R.  
Constitution, publicly proclaims complete relgious freedom, including   
freedom of worship and freedom of religious teaching, in all the   
              territories of the Soviet Union.              
 
                                                            
 
 
 "'Abuse of these freedoms to incite or organize movements for the   
overthrow of the Government will be dealt with in individual cases   
                     according to law.'                     
 
                                                            
 
 
 "If the Soviet Government will take action that justifies a state-  
ment of this kind, it will have contributed immensely to present morale   
and future harmony among the United Nations. If it will not, then it is   
evidently better not to make, even by implication, a commitment on the   
acceptability of an ambiguous statement which would only aggravate the   
difficulty of post-war discussions by having another untrustworthy   
                declaration on the record."