The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-30
FRENCH BUYING
 OF PLANES PROBED
Letter Allegedly Written By Roosevelt May Be
 Given to Public
BY RONALD G. VAN TINE

United Press Staff Correspondent)
 Washington, Jan. 30-(UP)-The senate military affairs committee may request today a copy of a let- ter allegedly written by President Roosevelt to government department heads asking cooperation with French mission buying military planes in this country.
 The committee met in secret ses- sion to continue its investigation of negotiations whereby France is pur- chasing the latest type American made planes with the administra- . tion's cooperation and of circum- stances surrounding the presence of French air ministry official aboard an experimental bomber that crashed near Los Angeles last week.
 The committees meeting was the major congressional event as nation al defense and the administration s foreign policy became the chief is- sue before both houses of congress. Passage of the relief bill by the sen- ate Saturday with the amount Of the appropriation definitely settled, cleared the way for emphasis on the presidents preparedness program.
 Probe Into Crash
 Military affairs committee chair man Morris Sheppard. D., Tex, summoned c. Grant Mason of the civil aeronautics authority, to de- termine whether the plane that crashed, precipitating the French purchase controversy, was intended as an addition to the air force or as 6 commercial product.
 The letter, a copy of which the committee was expected to request, reportedly was written to the state war, navy and treasury depart ments asking extension of courtesies to French representatives who were understood to have $65,000,000 with which to buy the most modern fighting planes,
 The committee heard Gen. Main Craig, army chief of staff, in an executive session Saturday. He was said to have testified that the war department, under pressure" from the White House, permitted a French representative to inspect the new plane. He was reported to have said that the war department op- posed cooperation with the French mission but that civilian authorities were instructed to lend aid.
 Senators Denounce Plan
 Sen. Gerald P. Nye, R., N. D., de- nounced French-American coopera- ton and said that the United States should get out of the business of arming the world and confine our manufactures to our own require ments."
 "The airplane deal with France under which the French government is permitted to buy an indefinite number of planes in the United States constitutes, in my opinion, a military alliance" he said.
 Sen. Bennett Champ Clark, D, Mo, also an advocate of strict iso- lation, said what want to find out is whether we are permitting for eigners to inspect our latest equip ment before we have an opportunity to bid on it ourselves"
 Sheppard said the committee had made some progress in determin- ing a broad policy which may be enacted into legislation governing the relation of the aviation industry to national defense" and that of- ficials of the American aircraft manufacturing concerns might be called to testify.
 Revelations regarding the French plane negotiations were expected to have considerable effect on congress sional attitude toward the admins tration's foreign policy.
 Future Policy In Spain
 One of the major items confront ing the administration now is de- termination of its future policy in Spain in view of Generalssimo Francisco Francois capture of Bar eclona and the impending end of the civil war.
 MT. Roosevelt and the state de- partment were reported to have greeted somewhat coldly a sugges- ton by Rep. John D. McCormac. D.. Mass, that the United States grant de facto recognition to the Franco government. He called for immed- fate recognition on grounds that 1t is accepted by 10000. 900 of the 24.- COG. 900 people in Spain"
 Administration spokesmen were reluctant to discuss the proposal. chiefly on grounds that the Franco capture of Barcelona does not a complete victory.
 Chairman Key Pittman. D., Nev.. of the senate foreign relations corn- ,..ltkae s.,X.&nt. a.,oysxdnn nHwn T.Qsrfe