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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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you were going to be useful to your country, you had to be there. I didn't see how he would think he could be away on the last two days of the session, because the last few days of the session are the big days so far as the business is concerned. You vote, and you vote by delegations. You're counted, I mean, and if you're not there nobody can substitute for you. It was important that the Senator should be there, but I didn't like to say that to him. I said, “I can't possibly be away.” I finally said, “I don't think that you and I should both be away at the same time--you see, we're the two Government delegates. I don't see how I can possibly leave.”

Anyhow, I turned it down. He called back about an hour later, to say wouldn't I reconsider it, that it would mean a great deal to him if I would go. He pressed pretty hard that I should go. I said, “Really, I've made up my mind that I cannot go, senator. I can't possibly do it. I've been presented--not to this Pope, but to other Popes--before. It's an interesting experience. But it isn't important for me. I have nothing to discuss with the Pope that's of prime importance.”

“Ah, but I have,” he said. “I have very important matters to discuss with the Pope. As you know, I have been in touch with our people here in France and in Belgium, and I have very important matters.”

He implied that he had matters having to do with the





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