Evening star., 1939-02-17

1Dinter proposed efforts to in,
' crease ornaments. A longer and
firmer step 1UaS his recommends
ton this year OF ship, plane and
gun building program. 1Uhich thus
far has been qiUen almost undni-
NOUS support BY Congress.
BY the Associated Press.
Following a meeting today of the
Senate Military Affairs Committee
at which all present were sworn to
secrecy. it was learned authorita-
lively that Hugh R. Wilson, AM
bassador to Germany, had declined
to answer many important" ques-
tions concerning European condi-
tions on the grounds the interna-
tional situation was too grave.
Even the official stenographer
was excluded from the closed
meeting.
Ambassador Wilson was reported
to have told the committee that any
answers he might make to certain
questions might disturb interna-
tional relations and might impair
his own usefulness.
Mr.. Wilson was recalled from Ger
many in December by President
Roosevelt for consultation and to
report. Subsequently, Hans Dieck-
hoff, the German Ambassador to
this country, was recalled by the
Nazi government for the same rea-
sons.
Queried on Nazi Strength.
One committee member said Mr.
Wilson was asked about the reputed
air strength of Germany and replied
that an Ambassador would have
much difficulty obtaining any in
formation on such point.
Senator Bridges, Republican, of
New Hampshire said before the
meeting that he understood Mr..
Wilson'S views on the European sit
uation we're quite different from
those previously expressed to the
committee, in joint session with
the House Military Committee, by
William c. Bullitt, Ambassador to
France, and Joseph Kennedy, Am
bassador to Great Britain. These
two Ambassadors were reported to
have told members of the two COM
mittees that war appeared imminent
in Europe and to have advised the
building up of United States de-
lenses. ...... -.-.t --.-e
Chairman Sheppard said the Sen
ate committee had agreed ''practi-
cally unanimously" that the Wilson
testimony should be kept secret.
Secretary of War Woodring also
was called today as witness. He
was present yesterday when Secre-
tary of the Treasury Morgenthau
testified, reaffirming his previous
statement that President Roosevelt
personally had overruled the Army
high command in ordering official
assistance for French mission in
this country to purchase war planes
Curb on President Urged.
Two members of the Senate COM
mittee are advocating legislation to
restrict Mr.. Reosevelt's power to
make American military airplanes
available to foreign governments.
Senator Nye, Republican, of North
Dakota said he would offer such a
bill and Senator Clark, Democrat, of
Missouri voiced his support.
Sentor Minton, Democrat, of In
diana said he doubted, however, that
the committee would favor such a
plan, because more f1exibility is
needed in such matters than law
would permit
The Nye proposal followed the
committee investigation of the Presi-
dents part in aiding France to buy
100 bombers of type developed by
the Douglas Aircraft Co. for sub
mission to the Army.
Secretary Morgenthau was repre-
sented as having told the commit
tee Mr.. Roosevelt directed the Treas
ury Procurement Division, which
handles Government purchases, to
assist the French mission.
Army Objection Overruled.
1t was brought out, committee
acted despite Army protests that
the French order might retard the
Army's own expansion program and
that the Army was due a years ex-
elusive use of the planes.
There were reports that Secretary
Morgenthau's testimony, to be made
public soon, might disclose sharp
differences of opinion between him
and Secretary Woodring Some
ecommittee members said Secretary
Woodring took the Army point OF
view and Secretary Morgenthau that
of the White House.
Just before he left to watch naval
maneuvers in the Caribbean. Mr.
Roosevelt sent Congress a special
request that it appropriate Slips
600 for work in developing rotary
wing and other aircraft. Rotary
wing craft, of which the autogiro is
a type, are slower than ordinary
planes, but military experts have
found them particularly useful in
areas where landing space is scarce
Argument over the French plane
transaction extended further, it was
disclosed yesterday, with the resig-
nation of Assistant Treasury Secre-
tary Wayne Chatfield Taylor Friends
OF Mr.. Taylor said he long had dis
agreed with the administration over
what he considered the Treasury s
part In aiding the democratic ma
tlons against totalitarian states.
1t was learned, also, that Ambas-
sador Bullitt, as well as Mr.. Roose-
velt, was active in urging that the
French plane transaction be con-
summated.
The Senate Military Committee
decided to proceed with the $376,-
O0O,O Army expansion bill, ap-
proved overwhelmingly by the House
Wednesday. 1t authorizes 5000 new