Evening star., 1938-02-08

become increasingly troubled in
past te,o gears as Italy and Japan
1Daged 1DarS OF aggression, Spain
,ras torn BY ciril strife and Ger
many rebuilt military forces touard
maritime strength. With Britain
already engaged in record arma-
ment program. President Roosevelt
has recommended huge naval
building appropriations nou before
House committee.
By the Associated Press.
Secretary of State Hull in a letter
to Senator Pittman, Democrat of
Nevada, denied today that the United
States had any agreement with Great
Britain relating to war or the possi.
bility of war"
The Secretary also denied that this
country is bound by any agreement
With any power in connection with
operations of the Navy.
Senator Pittman. chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee read
Secretary Hull's letter to the Senate.
1t gave the specific answer no" to
three questions which Senator John
son, Republican of California, had
framed In a resolution offered the
senate yesterday
Senator johnson had asked whether
there was an understanding" between
the United States and Great Britain
regarding measures to be taken in the
event of war; whether there was anv
alliance which would call for use of
the Navy in conjunction with any
other country" and whether there was
an agreement by which the Navv
would do patrol duty in any particular
ocean or section of an ocean.
Text of Hulrs Letter.
The text of Hull's letter to Pittman
follows:
My attention has been called to
senate resolution No. 229 introduced
by Senator johnson of California on
January calendar February y.
1888, and ordered to lie on the table
Under the terms of the proposed
resolution the Secretary of State is
requested, if it be not incompa tible
With the public interest, to advise the
senate in response to three inquiries.
For your information, and for such
use as you may desire to make thereof.
l desire to state to you very def
nlteIy that in response to point ta)
which reads whether Or not any alli-
ance. agreement or understanding ex-
ISIS, or is contemplated. with Great
Britain relating to war or the possi-
blllty OF war the answer is No: in
response to point (b) which reads
whether or not there is any UNDER
standing or agreement, express or i'm
pied, for the use of the Navy of the
united States in conjunction with any
other nation the answer is. no; with
regard to point Co which reads.
whether, or not. there is any under
standlng. or agreement, express. or
implied, with any nation. that the
United States Navy, or any part cf
1t, should police, or patrol, or be trans
1erred to any particular waters, or
any particular ocean, the answer is,
no."
Senator Pittman previously had pre-
olcted that the Foreign Relations Com
mittee would support Senator John
sons request for the information.
The Nevada Senator read the letter
short time after Admiral William D
Leahy had said the United States
could very profitably" engage in de-
velopment of dirigibles. However he
advocated leaving such experimental
ton to commercial agencies for the
present.
The Navy's chief of operations.
testifying for the seventh consecutive
day on the proposed $500 900 O00 |
naval expansion program, told the
House Naval Committee the Navv
should disregard lighter -than-air
craft at this time because no other
Navy is developing them, and other
types OF equipment are more urgently
needed.
Airplane VS.. Battleship.
Revival of the long-standing con-
sressional controversy of airplane
versus battleship by Representative
Mas, Republican, Minnesota, brought
declaration from Admiral Leahv
that the hattleship is the "bulwark of |
defense and effense."
Although he conceded it would be
possible to sink a battleship if bombs
or torpedoes hit. it often enough in
the right place" the admiral said the
battleship is less vulnerable" to air
attack than any other types of surface
craft.
The modern battleship is the type
Which can give and take the heaviest
(See DEFENSE, Page A-3.)