The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-07-16
H-NAV AIDE
TELLS PART OF
NEGOTIATIONS
Information Could Be
Obtained in Library,
Suspect Declares
BY ERIC FRIEDHEIM
International News Service

international News Service
Information in the possession
OF the Justice Department indi
Gates John S. FarnSworth, forwer
lieutenant commander of the
Navy, played a lone-wolf hand in
his alleged negotiations with Japa-
neSe naval officials.
This became known today as
the slender, 43-year-old former
naval aeronauticS expert Ian
guiShed in a District Jail cell
charged with espionage.
Investigation into Farnsworth's
activities since his courtmartial
from the Navy in 1927 is still
being pursued by Omen and
agents of the naval intelligence
unit.
Makes Statement
Before being arraigned on the
charge that he had delivered a
highly, confidential naval manual
to q member of the imperial
Japanese navy, FarnSworth was
subjected to a whitening barrage
of questioning at Department of
Justice headquarters. Prior to
his arrest he had been under sur
veillance for more than a year.
During his examination by the
Omen, the former officer was said
to have made a statement out
lining the reputed negotiations
carried forward with the Japanese.
This statement, it was learned,
is not a confession but it does
contain reported admissions that
Farnsworth obtained photographs
and data from the Navy Depart
ment which were transmitted to
Japanese agent.
Minimizes Charges
Interviewed in his cell, Farms
worth admitted making the state
ment. He commended the photo
graphs were obtained through the
Navy Departments regular pub
licity channels and thus could
not be described as of a conf
Dental nature.
Any tactical data which he
might have turned over to the
japanese could be found on the
shelves Of the average public IL
brary, the prisoner claimed. He
added:
"Whatever 1 gave them was
nothing that could have injured
our government in any way"
He reiterated his previous as
Sertion that he negotiated with
the japanese solely for the pur-
pose OF obtaining commission
to form a Nippon air corps. He
said:
"After my cOurt-martial from
the Navy, the only thing had
to turn to was my knowledge
of aerOnautiCS. / wanted to
utilize it to clear my name"
MAY REVISE PLANS
Despite Farnsworth'S avowals
that he delivered no naval secrets
to the Japanese, Admiral William
H. Standby, acting Secretary of
the Navy, indicated this Govern
ment may be required to revise
entirely its carefully developed
naval strategy.
FarnSworth is being held spe-
officially for transmitting to the
japanese a Navy manual entitled
Service of Information and
Security" Carefully guarded by
naval authorities, the manual
contains plans for battle forma-
tionS and maneuvers in wartime.
Standby declared:
eff the evidence brought out
at the trial shows this publica-
ton, which has a bearing on
fleet operations, has gotten into
the hands Of foreign agents,
changes probably will have to
be made in the Nays defense
plans"
HAS NO COUNSEL
Up to last night the accused had
not made any efforts to arrange
for counsel. At his arraignment
Tuesday he said this could be
taken care of later" He is being
held under $4,000 bond for a
hearing before U. S. Commissioner
Needham C. Turnage July 20.
There is a possibility that assist
ant U. S. Attorney Roger Robb
may present the Governments
allegations before the Grand Jury
before the" hearing. Robb said he
= had not yet determined his course
of action.
Although Farnsworth is permit
ted to have visitors no member of |
his family has appeared at the
Jail. His divorced wife, Florence,
who lives here, has refused to
answer questions regarding him.
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