Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-07
Committee Believed Ready to
Answer Gardeners Attack
on Hoover.
SAND IT'S GOOD ONE"
SAYS ADMIRAL RODMAN
1naccuracy in Sensational Pam
phlet of Navy League Head Is
Seen as Reply Is Drafted.

The report of President Hoover's
special committee appointed TO in
ouire into statements made by Will
liam Howard Gardiner, president OF
the Navy League, regarding the
Presidents naval economy program,
was delivered at the White House at
l o'clock this afternoon.
President Hoover today is expected
TO receive from his Special Committee
of Inquiry a lengthy report upholding
his activities in behalf of naval econ
omy.
Final touches were being put to the
report today, in preparation for prompt
presentation to the White House. the
committee. of which John Hays Ham
noond is chairman. completed rough
draft of the report early last night.
While no Official intimation has been
Forthcoming as to the findings OF the
group. it is generally predicted by OBJ
servers the report will "indict" William
Howard Gardiner president OF tne
NAVY League, on several counts.
Signatures Affixed.
Chairman Hammond and his COM
roittee held a final meeting this mcrn-
ing at the State Department. IL was
presumed the committee chose tnls
meeting place because OF its proxlnIty
to the White House. 1t was lnolcaIeo
that Hammond would carry tne coM.
1nittee's report across the street 10 the
executive offices as soon as the sigma
t,Ires of all the committee members
had been afixed.
At the White House it was said the
President was awaiting the report ana
probably would make 1t public as soon
SIS received.
The forecasts have a reasonable basis
In statements already issued by Secre-
tary of State Stimson and Secretary OF
the Navy Adams. Stimson Is authority
for the assertion that GarolnerS
Yarnphlet contained misstatements re-
rardinp the ver-MacDonald ~parley
at the Rapidan and Adams has re-
futed the charge that President Hoover
Is starving" the Navy.
It is understood the committee has
predicated its findings on ofnclal rec
ords of the State and Navy Depart
ments. Apparently the committee mas
called no witnesses and it has failed to
avail itself of the offer of Navy League
records.
Considered Inaccurate.
In all probability, the committee will
concur with President Hoover in his
claim that Gardiner uttered "untruths'
In the sensational pamphlet criticizing
the administration and accusing th'
President of "abysmal ignorance" with
regard to naval matters.
(, One of the counts, it is believed. will
| be that Gardiner was inaccurate In lis
charge that President Hoover arrived
! at q secret agreement with Prime Min
lister Macdonald Of Great Britain dur
ing the latter's visit here.
Another likely will be that Gardiner
erred when he charged that members
Of the Senate were not permitted &c
secure information regarding the con-
versaticns with the British prime min
lister.
These two counts would arise from
the following paragraph on the hrst
page Of GARDENERS pamphlet:
1.-THE Presidents initiative for a con-
ference Con naval reduction) led to hi
conversations at the Rapidan with the
British prime minister, which, admit
tedly, reached agreements that have
never officially been divulged IN theil
entirety; which suggests why the ac'
ministration refused to allow even ar
executive session of the Senate Commit
tee on Foreign Relations to see the ful
account of its negotiations and possible
commitments preparatory to the Londor
Naval Conference Of 1890"
Backed by Committee.
GARDENERS charges in full have re-
ceived the official stamp of approval o.
the Executive Committee Of the Nav!
League, recorded by 7-to-1 vote Thurs
day. The dissenter was Henry Breck'
inridge former Assistant Secretary o.
War, who objected to the language o
GARDENERS personal attack on Presiden
Hoover
Virtual completion Of the Hammond
Committee report was announced fol
lowing a six-hour session of the grouI
yesterday evening at the metropolitan
Club.
we finished the report and it's ;
good one too" Admiral Hugh Rodman
committee member told reporters
Hammond said the document had to b.
checked over before it is sent to tn