Evening star., 1939-02-19

question Of the Senator from North
Dakota, as I remember 1t. the first
approach to the War Department
the Secretary Of the Navy stayed
behind that day. too-yes, he stayed
behind that day-Secretary Swanson
was there-the first approach to the
department was perfectly ofncial,
was at the cabinet, and the Presi-
dent was present, and the Secre-
tary Of War, Mr.. Welles, Secretary
Swanson and myself, and the policy
was discussed there at that time.
Secretary Woodring-Was the
French mission here at that time?
Secretary Morgenthau-I would
have to look up my records. I do
not know, but I think-you wanted
to know when was the War De-
partment first approached, and I
would say that was the first ap-
proach.
Senator Nye-1 am going to be
very direct about this, because I
think that is the only fair way to
do 1t. I am somehow caused to
believe that the War Department
had been requested to afford the
cooperation that was finally made
available but had declined or had
discouraged the plan at all, and I
want to satisfy myself whether that
is true.
Secretary Morgenthau-Well, Mr..
Woodring Is head of the War De-
partment.
Secretary Woodring-At the con-
ference that has just been men,
toned we were all in accord that 1t
would not only help the develop
ment but lower the cost of the plane
to the American Government If 1t
were decided to give a French order
for the plane.
WoOdring, Morgenthau, johnson.
The committee also made public
testimony given by Secretaries
Woodring and Morgenthau, Assist
ant Secretary of War johnson and
others last Thursday when they
were questioned again about the
French plane transaction.
The record showed the following
colloquy between Senator Nye and
Secretary Woodring:
Senator Nye-Mr. Secretary, do
you want to briefly state for the
record just what your first knowl-
edge was Of the existence of this
French mission?
Secretary Woodring-I think 1t
was pretty well covered in our
other testimony. The first knowl-
edge I had of it was on December
%, when Gen. Arnold (chief of the
Army Air Corps called the acting
chief of staff, Gen. Marshall, and
told him the Treasury Department
was calling him into the conference,
as was stated this morning. Gen.
Marshall told me the French mis-
sion was here for that purpose.
Senator Nye-That was your first
knowledge?
Secretary Woodring-Yes.
Senator Nye DO you know
whether or not any approach was
made to the Douglas people or any
other aircraft producer in this coun-
try prior to what you now know was
the approach to the Treasury De-
partment?
Secretary Woodring-1 do not
quite understand. That is rather q
compound question.
Senator Nye-I did not intend 1t to
be. Do you have any knowledge
that this mission or any agent for
the mission approached any aircraft
producer in this country?
Secretary Woodring-No.
Senator Nye-Prior to this effort
of the Treasury Department?
Secretary Woodring-I have no
knowledge whatever.
Senator Nye-Is the War Depart
ment of record now as having re-
leased this mission from the pro-
visions of the release policy Of the
Aeronautical Board?
Secretary Woodring-That comes
under the procurement department..
Louis. you answer that-if that Is
all right.
Assistant Secretary johnson Il
signed letter releasing it for that
purpose. That letter was signed be-
fore the purchase by the French.
Same Procedure for Others.
Under further questioning by Sen
ator Nye, Mr.. johnson said the
same procedure which was en-
ployed to grant the French mis-
sion permission to see the Douglas
bombers would be employed If any
other country made request to
purchase warplanes here.
Suppose another foreign pur-
chaser wanted the particular bomb
er that was involved and came to
America for that purpose would
there ha NormiSSjon pivep fo f7v In