Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-07
Committee Believed Holding
Off Until Mitchell Acts.
Borah and Walsh Want
Thorough Inquiry.
HALE SUMMONS GROUP
TOGETHER NEXT WEEK
Hoover, Rebuking Shearer, Warns
He intends to Halt Any Propa-
ganda Against Government and
Asks Attorney General to Con-
slider Legal Steps.

A rigid investigation by the
Senate naval affairs committee of
alleged propaganda by shipbuild-
ing corporations against limita-
ton of naval armaments loomed
today as result OF the blast is
sued by President Hoover late yes
terday, asking the shipbuilders to
meet the charge they had worked
against arms cuts.
Senator Borah, chairman of the
foreign relations committee, said
today he believed the Senate
should go into the matter thor
oughly.
Senator David I. Walsh of Mas
sachusetts, a member of the naval
affairs committee, expressed the
opinion that the committee would
take action in the matter
promptly.
Chairman Hale Of the naval af-
fairs committee today called his
committee to meet Tuesday
to determine just what course
shall be taken. It is likely
he will discuss the situation with
the President and with the Attor-
ney General. 1t is possible that
the fact the Attorney General has
been called upon by the President
to act in this matter may be given
as a reason for the Senate COM
mittee'S holding of at the pres
ent time.
President Hoovers communication to
the Attorney General had notsbeen re-
ceived at the Department or Justice
this morning. but was expected during
the day, and in the meantime. it was
said that some preliminary work Of in
vestigation had been done. The in
quiry will be in the hands OF John
Lord O'Brian, assistant to the Attorney
General.
Strong Pressure Expected.
The pressure for a Senate investiga-
ton, however. Is likely to be very strong.
Senator Borah and others have been
aroused over the report that several
of the big shipbuilding companies Of
this country have employed paid
propagandist to defeat the efforts of
this and other governments to reach
an agreement for the limitation Of
naval armament.
President Hoover hit out from the
shoulder in his statement. It is clear
the President intends to halt, II possible,
any propaganda in this country by in
terested parties against the steps now
being taken by this Government. the
British government and others to bring
about limitation OF armament
Just what legal steps can be taken
by the Government in regard to the
alleged employment of William B.
Shearer. self-styled naval expert, by the
three shipbuilding companies is not
quite clear
A Senate committee, however. with
its wide powers, it Is said here today,
can bring the whole matter to light.
Asks Compensation in Suit.
The three shipbuilding corporations
against which Shearer has filed suit
for $250,000, alleged to be due him for
services in blocking disarmament, are
the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corpora
tion, the American Brown Boveri Elec-
trio Corporation and the Newport News
Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. His suit
was filed August % in the New York
Supreme Court. Shearer laid claim to
$308, ,885 as compensation for his serv-
ices from December 10, 1926 to March
81. 1929. OF this total sum he says
he has received $51.230. All of these
corporations have done much work for
the Government.
His attendance at the Geneva con-
ference between June 20, 1927. and
August 4. 1927. he said, fell within this
period of his employment. This con-
ference failed because of a disagree
nent between the United States and
Great Britain on cruiser tonnage.
Shearer says that during his period
OF employment he not only wrote ar