Evening star., 1936-01-23
MUN|T|ON PROBERS
TO FIGHT FOR FUND
Senate Committee Agrees
on Drive for Cash to
Continue Inquiry.
BACKGROUND

routing In State Department and
other files, the Nye Munitions
Committee three Ueeks ago began
questioning J. P. Morgan and some
of his partners on U. S. financing
OF the allies before this country
entered the World War. After
seperal sessions. during Which Nor
gan heatedly denied all suggestions
big business might haze plunged
US into war to saue profits, the
committee disclosed its $4,000
appropriation tods almost spent.
Meanwhile, reflections cast by the
committee on President Wilson'S
dealings Uith the allies prior to
1917 led to denuncidtion OF the
investigators from the floor OF
Senate and rendered doubtful fur
ther appropriation for the inquiry.
BY the Associated Press.
After closing a breach in its own
ranks, the Senate Munitions Commit
tee prepared to battle in the chamoer
today for repleriShed cash box to
wind up its inquiry into war causes.
Chairman Nye, who had been de-
nounced by prominent Democrats tor
calling President Wilson a "falsifier,"
succeeded in winning the assent OF
his committee in his drive for funds.
He said the move was approved
unanimously by the group. although
Senators Pope, Democrat, Of Idaho,
and George, Democrat. of Georgia,
previously had criticized the line the
inquiry was taking.
The opposition Of Senators Glass.
Democrat, Of Virginia, and Connally.
Democrat, Of Texas. who vigorously
defended the wartime President on
the floor of the Senate, was not ex-
pected to be easily surmounted.
Nye expressed hope, however. OF
getting his resolution before the Sen.
ate. He estimated that two weeks
more would be required to finish the
hearings and complete report.
He said the testimony of J. P. Nor
gan and partners, interrupted last
week. ay be resumed Monday If the
money is forthcoming About dozen
other corporations and individuals are
under subpoena.
Neutrality Bill Nearly Ready.
The House Foreign Affairs Commit
tee has all but completed its report on
neutrality legislation to take the place
Of the temporary law expiring at the
end of next month. 1t was said that
only the highly controversial. provision
concerning embargoes Oh such ma
terials as cotton and oil remained to
be considered.
AS the bill now STANDS exports OF
such materials could be limited to
normal trade figures in the Presidents
discretion. Mandatory embargoes
would apply on munitions and imple.
ments OF war.
Some committee members want to
make all neutrality legislation manda-
tory so as to make the position of the
United States plain IN advance of any
war.
Kin of Lansing Aroused.
The Senate Munitions Committee
was accused yesterday of violating the
expressed wishes of the Lansing family
in circulating among certain Senators
excerpts from the private diaries Of
Robert Lansing. former Secretary OF
State.
Allen w. Dulles, New York attor.
ney and nephew Of the late war;
time Secretary, made public here .
letter he wrote to Senator Nye. as
serting the Lansing estate had never
given the committee permission to
examine the documents.
On the contrary. he told Nye.
Dulles had specifically requested that
no public use be made Of any Of their
contents on the ground that it would
be an unwarranted invasion Of per.
sonal and private papers"
Diaries in Library.
The Lansing diaries we're deposited
with the Library of Congress by
Lansing's widow on the express con-
dition that they would be kept sealed
for 20 years, Dulles said. The docu-
ments were obtained from there by
subpoena of the Munitions Committee.
Calling Nyes attention to the con-
gressional record of January II, which
quoted the Senator as saying that the
committee got the documents from
the library after approval by the
trustees of the Lansing estate, Dulles
asked for a correction Of this "in-
accurate statement"
"The diaries we're turned over to
the Library OF Congress by Mrs. Lam
sing during her lifetime he wrote.
"but in 50 far as the estate OF either
Mr.. or Mrs Lansing is concerned, or
any of their relatives. no consent to
your committees examination OF the
private diaries has ever been given.
After citing letter written to him
last Octnhel by Stephen Raushenbush.
committee investigator, asserting the
committee had no intention OF making
use of any of the material, Dulles
added:
According to the Congressional Rec
ord. copies Of excerpts from the diaries
have been circulated among certain
members of the Senate.
GAS beth Mr.. and Mrs. Lansing
were most scrupulous in turning back
to the Department of State all papers
and documents which formed part
of Mr.. Lansing's work as an ofncial
of the United States Government, 1t Is
hard to understand why their wishes
with respect to this personal diary