Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-29
WAR SCARE" DATA
SOUGHT VA|NLY BY
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Wilbur So Far Refuses to De-
liver Reports on Japan,
Says McCIintic.
MORE FIGURES IN NAVAL
CRUISER BUILDING PLANS
Fall-Doheny Trial Effort to Get
Documents Recalled by Demo
cratic Representative.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The Pacific "war scare" that figured
in the Fall-Doheny oil trial has come
under inquiry by the House naval
committee and Representative Nc
Clintic Of Oklahoma, a Democratic
member. said today that Secretary
Wilbur had refused to give the com
mittee confidential Navy reports bear
ing on the subject.
Specifically, the Oklahoma Repre-
sentative disclosed, the committee had
requested the Navy Secretary to send
it, in confidence, a report submitted
by Admiral Gleaves, while he was
commander Of the Asiatic fleet, deal
ing with "the belligerent attitude of
Japan a few years ago"
The committee action was taken in
secret session during consideration OF
Chairman Buffers proposal to build
a new fleet of light cruisers to bring
American naval strength up to a sat
isfactory ratio with that of Great
Britain and Japan.
Figured i'm Oil Trial.
1t was Admiral Gleaves' report
that defense counsel in the Fall.
Doheny trial sought without success
to secure from the Navy Department.
in support of the contention that the
Pearl Harbor oil contract was entered
into by the Doheny oil interests under
stress of national emergency in the
Pacific.
"It will be remembered that this
report has been made the excuse for
the secrecy of disposing of our naval
reserve oil lands and the construction
of oil tanks in Hawaii" said Nc
Clintic. 1t will also be remembered
that after the recent trial of Mr.. Fall
and Mr.. Doheny. that one of the
jurors gave out a statement in which
the japanese scare and this report
was given as a tustifiable reason for
the verdict which exonerated them
for any wrong doing
II was advised some time ago by a
high ranking officer in the Navy that
these se-caiied Japanese reports con-
tained no information which would
show belligerent attitude on the part
of Japafi and that the tlepartment
could not afford to allow any mem
ber of Congress to see these reports
for the reason they would show that
the secret policy of the Navy with re-
spect to the oil leases and the build
ing of tanks was not justified
Views ON Naval Reports.
In fact, these reports, according to
the information given me, mostly con-
Germ the killing of an American sailor
and the finding of some oil on the
water after the Japanese earthquake.
1t is known by every person that
Japan automatically and respectfully
disposed Of the case where the sailor
was killed according to the custom
usually followed by other nations.
In my opinion this Japanese scare
Is now put forth for the purpose OF
exciting the citizenship of the United
states so that pressure will be brought
in favor of a new ship-building policy
costing $400, 100000 or $500. 600 0O0.
there is an apathy in
agricultural sections of the United
States. / will gladly vote for such a
policy, provided it can be shown that
Japan assumed a belligerent attitude
when these reports were made by
Admiral Gleayes."
Wilbur Explains Stand.
Secretary Wilbur said today that
Mr.. McClintic had individually asked
for confidential information from the
department, and had been refused.
but that he knew Of no request from
the naval committee as whole.
I'VE refused to divulge this informa-
tion in court, and we doubtless would
refuse to give it to the committee. I"
said the Secretary. II wish it under.
stood that this department has not
asked Congress for the 10 cruisers
which are being discussed. We are
keeping within the provisions of the
budget In this respect. We have
stated, however. before the House
naval committee, that % cruisers are
necessary to keep the Navy on a
parity with that Of Great Britain"