Evening star., 1935-09-12
HULL IS SILENT
IN HANSON CASE
Diplomat Reported to Have
Blamed U. s. Interests in
Russia for Transfer.

BY the Associated Press.
The State Department maintained
silence today on published reports
that the Self-slain George c. Hanson,
veteran diplomat. blamed American
interest in Russia for his transfer
to an obscure post.
Hanson committed suicide aboard
the S. S. President Polk. Earlier he
had been transferred from Moscow
where he was consul general. to Ad-
dis Ababa, Ethiopia. In this move
some observers saw indications that
Hanson. with a reputation as "trou-
bleshooter," was being sent to East
Africa to watch American interests
in the event of Italo-Ethiopian hos
tilities.
Suffers Breakdown.
But while Hanson was at sea,
Ethiopia bound. he was shifted again,
this time to the comparatively OBJ
scure Salonika. Greece. There. 1t
was said. he suffered nervous break
down. 1t was while he was en- route
home September 2 for treatment that
he shot himself His body was taken
to Bridgeport, Conn, his native city
for burial today.
The Bridgeport Times-Star, in
copyrighted article, said the Amer
can-Russian Chamber of Commerce
in New York had filed charges against
Hanson late last year with the State
Department. These charges, the news
paper said. were brought after Han
son delivered a speech at chamber
meeting at which he discussed Soviet
Russian affairs.
The charges. the newspaper con-
tinued. were followed by secret hear
ing of the State Departments Person.
mel Board The boards subsequent
action, the Times Star said Hanson
believed, was responsible for the
transfer.
Gave Talk Reluctantly.
The newspaper published a letter
which it said Hanson wrote to Wilbur
J. Carr, Assistant Secretary OF State.
December 9, 1884. The letter said. in
part:
Il was shocked when the personnel
board charged me with having
given an anti-Soviet talk.
Il received repeated invitations
from the American Russian Chamber
of Commerce to give talk before It's
committee members. After l was as
sured that the committee desired just
a plain man-to-man talk, that the
meeting would be a closed one at
which no Soviet citizens would be
present. and that my remarks would
not be divulged outside. I reluctantly
consented.
Il gave my impressions of life, work
and industry in Soviet Russia in
rambling way. - AT the end OF
my talk 1 was applauded, congratu-
lated and thanked by those sitting
nearest me. including Mr.. Sly, the
chairman and POSTMASTER, and Col.
Cooper.
Mr.. Sly Brought Charge.
During the meeting with the per-
sonnel board Mr.. Moore (R. Walton
Moore. Assistant Secretary of State)
remarked that the disparaging re-
marks against the Soviet government
were brought to the attention OF the
department by Mr.. Sly and that 1 could
expect no help from Col Cooper.
The sources and motivation OF
these charges I can only conclude are
not disinterested. would hesitate
to believe that the Chase National
Bank is attempting to interfere with
American Government appointments
abroad. But I can see no other rea-
son for Mr.. Slys attack on me. /
would hate to imply that Col. Cooper,
an ex-employe of the Soviet, is willing
to attack unjustifiably the character
of an American foreign officer to fur
ther Soviet propaganda in this coun-
try. can detect plan and method in
these attacks. ."