Evening star., 1940-07-02
Publisher Named
To Put Drive
In Preparedness
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN,

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
Col. Frank Knox, Republican
newspaper publisher from Chicago,
recently appointed Secretary of the
Navy by President Roosevelt in a
drive for national solidarity" to-
day appeared before the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee at an open
hearing on his nomination and dis
closed that:
l. There had been no commit
ments made on either side" between
himself and President Roosevelt on
the third-term issue. Col. Knox
did not say there had been no dis
cussion of that issue when he talked
with the President. He did say,
however, that he regarded his con-
Versation with the President as a
private matter.
2. He and President Roosevelt
saw eye to eye on the need of build
ing up the American Navy for ma
tional preparedness.
3. That he had not been brought
down here to frame policies" but
ito put some drive into the pre-
paredness program"
First Cool to Offer.
Col. Knox said he had told Presi-
dent Roosevelt, when he was first
approached last December to take
a position in the cabinet, that he
did not think it would be wise for
him to accept. At that time, Col.
Knox pointed out, the war in Eu-
rope was stalemate and was gen.
orally called a "phoney" war.
II told the President, however" !"
continued Col Knox, that if the
war took another turn and a crisis
should arise. threatening the United
States, I'd be willing to do anything
he asked me to.
AFTER the fall Of France a per-
sonal friend of President Roosevelt
renewed the conversation. I sent
word back to the President that I
thought such grave danger had
arisen that was ready to do any
thing the President asked me,
whether it was to put a gun on my
shoulder or what"
Col. Knox said that two days later,
the President announced his ap-
pointment as Secretary of the Navy.
Then he read to the Senate COM
mittee the statement which he issued
at that time, after he had accepted
the appointment, in which he said
he regarded national defense as not
a partisan question; that it should
have the united support of the peo-
pie. He concluded: THE President
has said can help him. What
happens to me is unimportant."
Favored Selling Ships.
The committee recessed for lunch,
intending to resume its hearing of
the 1886 Republican vice presiden-
tial candidate at 2 pm. Chairman
Walsh said that as soon as Col
Knox's testimony was concluded the
committee planned to act on the
nomination..
Col. Knox was questioned about
the selling of naval vessels to the
Allies and said he had not been
opposed to sending naval vessels"
until he discovered there was a
law against it. He made it clear,
however, that he was opposed to
releasing to the Allies naval vessels
of real value to the American Navy.
He mentioned old destroyers as a
type of vessel he would be willing
to sell to the Allies if there were
not law against it.
He was questioned also about a
statement attributed to him that
he was willing to sell 500 first-line
airplanes to the Allies.
Col. Knox told the committee it
was necessary Ito be guided by our
own needs first" He said his state
ment about the planes had been a
newspaperman's statement made
without the technical facts at
hand"
Questioned by Tydings.
'If you knew that our own Off
GERS are being trained in old planes,
some of them four or five years
DID," said Senator Tydings, swould
you send the Allies these new
planes?"
Col. Knox admitted that might
make a difference and he might
agree with Senator Walsh under
those circumstances.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, of
Maryland, questioned Col. Knox
about the proposed sale to the Allies
of mosquito boats being constructed
for the Navy. The Senator said the
Government had made payments on
these boats which were the best of
their kind
Then we learned these contracts
had been cancelled and these boats
turned over to the Allies" he said.
do you think it was a wise thing
to do?"
Il do not think I should be put
in the position of criticizing my
predecessor" replied Col. Knox.
But with the facts as presented, I
would agree with you."
At the outset of the hearing, the
publisher read to the committee
editorials published in the Chicago
Daily News and written by himself,
which gave his position from time
to time on the war in Europe and
(See KNOX, Page A-30