Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-04-16
The Sales Of Arms Investigation.


The Sales Of Arms Investigation.
INFORMANT TESTIMONY OF THE SECRETARY
OF WAR.
The Serate special committee 10 inquire into
the alleged sale of arms to the French govern
ment, met Ibis morning.
Or. ". T. Bernard, sworn:-Is correspond NC
clerk at the War Department, and in charge OF
the military academy branch. Witness ex-
planned at some length the business of his office:
he wrote the letter OF January 10Th to the Sec
rotary of State, replying to certain allegation
contained III a letter from Remington X Sons TO
the Minister at Tours. a copy OF which had been
forwarded through the Secretary OF State; had
a distinct recollection OF writing il; papers are
transmitted from his Office to that of the CHIEF
clerk and witness would probably have recol-
lected had il been taken from its regular co Irse.
III. 4. Crosby, confident clerk to the Secretary
Of War, testified that he was present at the in
tfrviews between the Secretary of War and the
Marquis de Chambrun on the 18th and 10Th OF
January; at neither Of them was the letter Of
the Secretary of War to the Secretary of State
read to de Chambrun, nor anything that pur-
ported TO be such letter.
BY MIR. Schurz-The Secretary of War did
read to de Chamtrun an endorsement by the
Chief Of Ordnance on Remingtons letter 10 LIE
Cesne; witness supposed that endorsement was
embodied in the letter OF the Secretary of Wa
to the Sccrt tary of State; at the second inter
view de Chambrun said Richardson was a part
rer Of the Remingtons; witness made note OF
this remark at the time; the Secretary and dc
Chambrun conyersed IN regard to the endorse
ment 10 re embodied In the letter OF the SScre-
tary of War to the Secretary of State.
Hon. W. w. BelkRGp, Secretary of War, pro-
Guced and read a memorandum OF the inter-
views which he had with de Chambrun in De
cember. 1871, and January, 1872; witness told
de Chambrun that the government had sold no
arms to the French government, but only to
private individuals, and that he was willing
that the action of the Department should be-
made public; de CLsmbrun wanted informa-
ton from the Department TO use in the L.
Place investigation; witness told him that he
(witness) had directed Gen. Dyer TO prepare q
list OF persons TO whom arms were sold for the
President, and that he (de Chambrun) could
see II; witness also told him that il he had in
formation that the RcmngtOns were agents OF
the French government he would order that no
more arms be sold to them; the Marquis want
ed Remngton's statement officially contradicted
il untrue; witness told him the proper way t.
do that was to have the French legation address
a letter to Secretary Fish, who would send il TO
the War Department, and the letter woald be
answered; such letter did come and was an
sweIed; de Chambrun wanted the list of persons
to whom arms were sold, to use in the Off cial
investigation in defense of lie Place; witues.
was positive that he never read his reply TO the
Secretary OF State to any one; ii was not in hs
room v hen the Marquis was there; thinks he did
read the Endorsement; de Chambrun said the
sale to Richardson was the same as a sale TO
Remington; witness replied that he would in
quire into the matter, and il the ordnance
officers were aware OF that fact, he wOald take
severe measures to correct il; in a subsequent
interview de Chambrun said that General In
2aliS nau salu unless the RemlngtOnS should
take such arms as he wanted to sell, he wolld
stop them from getting arms entirely; on the
9th OF December witness invited de Chambrun
IN his private room, as he acted as il he had
some private information to communicate; he
said fraud and corruption existed in the sale OF
arms, and witness asked him to make charges or
give him some Information to act upon, az he
would punish severely any officer who might be
concerned in such frauds; he (de CT replied
that Thomas Richardson was the agent of E.
Remington * Sons; de Chambrun said he was
friend to the administration, and that a resou-
ton calling for the investigation would be intro
duced in Congress; witness replied that he was
perfectly willing TO respond to any investigation.
de Chambrun wherein he testified that during
one of the interviews the Secretary spoke OF a
resolution OF inquiry, saying the Senator from
Missouri Is after that, and called him Dutch
man, (referrng TO Mr.. SchurZ.) Turning to de
Chambrun, who was sitting on the sofa near
him, the Secretary said with some feeling,
"That is untrue, sir; utterly untrue" To Sen
ator Schurz-"And know you believe it to be
untrue, Senator Schurz. i never spoke of you
in that way" Continuing his testimony, the
Secretary said he was very careful to prevent
the sale of arms to any agent OF the French gov
eminent; probably more cautious than he should
have been, but he was determined that ii ne
committed any error il should be on the right
side.
BY Mr.. Hamlin:-Witness would at any time
have gladly furnished any Senator with in
formation in regard to whom arms were
sold, &c.
Before concluding the examination OF Secre.
tary Belknap the committee adjourned until to-
morrow morning at lGE O'Clock, when his testi-
mony will be continued.