Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-12

| State, War and Navy Departments and
other governmental agencies whose ac-
! tivities have brought them in some con-
tact with propagandists.
It is known that the Navy Depart
ment's report to the President includes
among other things. the records of the
Navy Intelligence Bureau relating to
activities of certain individuals and or
CARNATIONS who have been engaging II
records 60 much further than the mere
question of indulgence in big Navy
propaganda. The personal records of
these individuals and groups covering
q long period in advance OF the 1927
Geneva conference are included.
The President, for the time being, Is
having nothing to say publicly on this
subject. He has declined to make any
comment upon the allegations Of Mr..
Shearer, the admitted Navy propaganda
list, that four admirals of the Navy were
interested in his patriotic work"
The President will not presume to in
terfere with the Senate committees In
vestigation, but those who are close to
him feel certain that he will keep In
close touch with certain members OF
that committee, and will impart to them
what ideas or suggestions he may have
to give.
Jones Denies Reports.
Rear Admiral Hilary P. Jones. naval
observer with the American delegation
at the 1927 Geneva conference on naval
limitation, today denied reports that he
Influenced President Hoover to launch
an investigation of activities of Shearer
at that conference.
There is nothing to that" Admiral
Jones declared. 81 was out of town
when the President made his announce
ment regarding Shearer, and had had
no communication with the President
on the subject before that" + ~. -
Admiral Jones also repudiated en-
phatically reports quoting him as hay-
ing said he had Spoken once" with the
self-styled naval expert.
81 never met Shearer In my life, so
far as I know, and never spoke to
him on any occasion" the admiral
Continued on Page 2, Column 81
stated. II think I saw him just once
Geneva. A man, q stranger to me,
opened the door Of my Office, but with
drew when he saw me sitting there.
inquired of others who had seen the
man start to enter, and was told it was
Shearer. That Is the only time I can
recall Of ever seeing him."
Shortridge Comments.
Following his appointment as chair
man Of the investigating committee
Senator Shortridge said:
1--WE propose to 60 to the bottom Of
this matter. The subcommittee will
carry on the investigation aS promptly
this afternoon to determine what wit
nesses shall be called and when the
first hearing shall be held"
Senator Shortridge said he believed It
would be possible to have the first hear
ing on Monday. He pointed out that
q certain amount of time would be
necessary to get the witnesses here.
Among those from whom he said would
be subpoenaes would be issued was Will
liam B, Shearer. the alleged lobbyist for
the Shipbutlding concerns, officials Of
Shipbuilding Co., the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., and the
American Brown-Boveri Corporation.
He said also that In due course some
Of the high naval officers whose names
have been used in connection with the
matter would be heard by the commit
tee.
Directed Particularly at Shearer.
The inquiry ordered by the Senate is
directed particularly at the alleged ac-
tivities OF Shearer at the Geneva and
preparatory conferences on naval limi-
tation.
Senator Shortridge said that the SUBJ
committee would seek to develop any
facts which bore on the employment OF
Ehearer at these conferences, VII. ti1ar
they had to do with occurrences rt c.
nova, in this country or elsewhere.