Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-12
NAVAL OBSERVERS
WERE WARNED OF
SHEARER IN GENEVA
Propogandist Was Barred at
First, but Later Admitted
on Press Credentials.
SENATORS TO START
ON INQUIRY AT ONCE
shortridge Is Named as Chairman
of Subcommittee to Con-
duct Probe.
BY REX COLLIER.

peru III IDe employ Oh AMERICAN snip
building corporations, gain entree to
the 1927 naval limitation conference at
Geneva, and what did he do after he
was admitted?
The Senate of the United States, at
the instance of President Hoover, is
about to go to the bottom of these
questions and others. The facts will be
brought to light from official sources
during the inquiry.
In advance of the inquiry, however,
thoritative sources just how Shearer
first made his presence known to Amer
ican officials at the conference, how he
was received, and what his outwardly
apparent activities were thereafter.
Tried Press Avenue.
From these sources it was learned
today the Senate probably will be ad-
vised that
press section of the conference and was
refused entry because he could produce
no press credentials.
g Accepting this rebuff gracefully, he
returned several days later with appar-
entity authentic credentials certifying
that he was the representative of New
York newspaper.
3. Shearer thereafter was admitted
to the press section as duly accredited
news correspondent, and, so far as The
Stars informants noticed, seemed to
conduct himself as did the other re-
porters, numbering about 80.
4. American naval observers were ION
their guard" against Shearer through
out the conference because of advices
that the Navy Department was "lnvesu-
eating" him.
5. A British official inquired of an
American official if Shearer were not
in the employ of American steel inter-
ests, and the suggestion was received
with surprise by the American, who
replied he had never heard of the re-
port.
It is recalled here that charges were
printed in some British newspapers at
the time of the conference to the effect
that American shipbuilding interests
were conducting a lobby at Geneva.
Shearer Was Barred by Tuck.
Shearer, according to the informa-
tion obtained by The Star, was barred
from the press section of the confer
ence by American Consul Tuck, who
was in charge of press arrangements.
Under the rules of the conference, only
accredited news correspondents were TO
be admitted, and Shearer was unable
to show any credentials as such.
When Shearer returned later with
papers certifying he was representa-
tive of a New York newspaper. Tuck
granted him the same privileges accord
ed all newspaper men at the parley.
These privileges, it Is said Included the
right to sit in on certain sessions of the
conference, and to make full use OF the
press dquarters-frequented also by
conference officials.
Prominent in Press Group.
Shearer, it is stated was prominent in
the activities around the press section,
and was regarded as an "easy conversa-
tionalist." He seemed to have way OF
making friends, it is explained, and was
seen frequently in cafe which was a
popular gathering place for newspaper
men and others attending the sessions.
While American naval officials had
been warned" to be on guard against
Shearer, it is understood they saw Moth
ing in his activities to justify Suspi-
cion that he was other than a news
paper man reporting the proceedings OF
the parley for an American newspaper.
They are said to have received lightly
and incredulously. the suggestion that
he was employed by interests"
1t is clear from The Stars advices
that if part of Shearer's work for the
shipbuilding companies was to "influ-
ence" American naval observers, he
failed in that phase of his activities
for the simple reason that the observ-
ers had been clipped of" to steer
clear of him.
8. Printed in star in 1927.
In connection with the investigation
the following dispatch printed in The
Star on July rs, 1927, is of interest:
"By Drew Pearson.
GENEVA, July 23.-When the
history of the Geneva naval confer
ence Is finally written, it will be found
that the failure of the British en-
bassy in Washington and the foreign
Office in London to keep informed on
the state of American public opinion
had much to do with the blunt and
vigorous Anglo-American conflict at
Geneva, with its inevitable setback of
mutual good will in both countries.
Coupled with this, Anglo-American
harmony was seriously impeded at
Geneva by the presence of a paid
American big Navy propagandist who
disseminated the most violent anti
British propaganda among newspaper
men, and who appeared to be en-
couraged by some of the American
naval experts"
At the close of the article are these
paragraphs: -
Almost equally to blame for twist
ing the lions tail and making the
eagle scream" a condition which un-
fortunately continued throughout the
conference, was an extremely able
American propaganda whose influence
with the representatives of two in
fiuential American newspapers was such
that he even read their dispatches be-
fore fling Said to be In the employ
of large shipbuilding interests, this gen.
tleman has been camping at Geneva
ever since the meetings of the prepara-
tory conference on disarmament.
His propaganda, the writer can
testify, was most violently and unrea-
sonably anti-British. He appeared to
be doing everything possible to prevent
the success of the conference, and
while there is no proof that he was