Evening star., 1939-02-19
Fastest Planes Kept
Secret From French
Air Mission
Senators Told Buyers
Considered Only Two
Types FovorobIy
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Types FovorobIy j.
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to the Army, would not "in any way"
delay construction OF 5000 new
planes for the Army under the ad-
ministration's proposed rearmament
program.
In other War Department quar-
tiers, 1t was pointed out that the
French had not seen the Army's
experimental XP-38 fighter, which
attained speeds in excess of 400 miles
an hour in dash across the coun-
try. From other sources, there were
hints the committee had been told
the Army has in the process of
manufacture a bomber considered
to be much more effective than the
Douglas ship.
The testimony made public by the
Senate Committee disclosed that
Secretary Morgenthau reported the
French viewpoint on the relative
efficiency Of American and German
military aircraft while arguing that
it was good business" to sell planes
to France.
He related that the French came
here prepared to spend SOS 900 900
If they could get delivery Of the
planes within six months.
Furthermore" he said, "they only
want planes which are as good or
better than there are planes at pres
enr in Europe.
Now when they look over the
field to see what we have got, it gets
down to two companies, just two
companies, two models which could
stand in the air for one second
against the German plane"
These two planes were the Doug
las bomber and the Curtiss pursuit
which the French purchased.
Sales Held Definite Aid.
Mr.. Morgenthau went on to say
that President Roosevelt and the
cabinet officers who discussed the
proposed sales concluded that the
Army's air expansion program would
be helped rather than delayed.
you want to know what the
thought was" the Treasury head
said in response to a question from
Senator Clark, Democrat, of Mis-
souri,. "The thought was that this
money, these people being here. that
these orders would be placed at
once, and they the French) would
pay for the development cost and
their orders would be out of the way
and be delivered before Congress
voted the money for the Army air
expansionD and the Army would
have chance to have that compe-
tition later, and that all of the de-
velopment costs will be paid for by
the French, and we would get plants
In production that are idle now.
Now the thought, as I say, that
the President had, with these other
cabinet officers, was that here was
this money-$65 100000 good, hard
cash-to 60 into the pockets of
American workmen, and that these
orders could be placed Immediately
and gotten out of the way before
our American business was ready.
THE French mission was under
pledge that none of these planes
should leave France, and that none
Of them should be shown to any
body, and I believe from the discus
sion that took place that the bulk
OF these orders, If tlsey had been
placed, could have gotten out of the
way and that the United States
Government would have benefited,
because the entire development, of
course, would have been paid for by
the French.
1T looked like good business.
That is what motivated us, and in
stead of being ashamed I. think it
is something to be proud of-s65,- :
600, 900 for American workmen's S
pockets is good stuff, and do not
see why there is anything par
ticularly secret about it or anything
particularly to apologize for
Gen. Craig discussed foreign sales
OF planes in general terms in re-
sponse to question from Senator
Austin, Republican, of Vermont. The
Army chief of staff asserted it was
the "soundest kind of proposition"
to seek to place airplane products
In foreign markets.
Compares Workers Status,
In that connection, he compared
working conditions in German air.
plane plants with conditions in this
country.
"The German workman" Gen.
Craig said, will work 16 hours a day
for mark a day, day in and day
out. while ours Is pretty highly
paid man. That Is why Ger
many can SELL mean foreign ma
tions in general can sell, their OBJ
solete or obsolescent planes at prices
with which we can not compete"
During the committees secret
hearings. Secretary Woodring ques-
toned Secretary Morgenthau at
some length about the Treasury De-
partment's knowledge, in advance of
the War Department, of the French
intention to purchase the war planes
here.
The record showed that Mr.. Wood
ring took over the questioning of his
cabinet colleague when the COM
mittee inquiry swung around to the
inception of official assistance for
the French mission.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota, had asked Secretary Wood
ring when the War Department first
became aware of the presence of the
French mission In this country. Mr..
Woodring referred the question to
Secretary Morgenthau.
Their testimony follows:
Secretary Morgenthau-As I re-
member it now from memory-I
have no record here-if I am not
correct, you can check meas
remember it, after the cabinet we
stayed behind, and I do not know