Evening star., 1940-12-31

NdziS Offered TO Let
Roosevelt Negotiate
Peace, Editor Says
American Oil Man Cove
BerIe Copy Of Document in
October, 1889, He Asserts
William Rhodes Davis. American
oil man. gave the State Department
in october, 1899, a copy OF a docu-
ment initiated by high NaZi OFF,
Gals offering to let President Roose-
welt negotiate Just and lasting
peace" Verne Marshall, Cedar Rap
ids Iowa publisher and chairman
of the No Foreign War Committee
asserted at press conference here
yesterday afternoon.
Mr. Marshall discussed in detail
Mr.. Davis alleged role as a peace
envoy after a newspaperman had
brought up the name of the oil op-
orator as a supporter of the COM
mittee Mr.. Marshall explained that
he would not say Mr.. Davis was an
envoy from this Government to
the warning powers, but would say
the oil man few to Europe after a
lengthy conference" with the Presi-
dent and with A. A. Berle, jr., AS
Sistant Secretary of State.
When Mr.. Davis returned by clip
per. Mr.. Marshall added, he said he
had information which he would
submit only to the President. but
after waiting at the White House
"and jockeying around all day" Mr..
Davis finally consented" to see Mr.
Berle, but refused to submit the
original document, initiated by,
among others, Air Marshal Her
mann Goering. Mr.. Davis left a
translation at the State Department,
according to Mr. Marshall.
The State Department, asked for
comment, issued a statement saying
that naturally. individual citizens
often volunteer to the State Depart
ment information and suggestions
pertaining to some phase of inter-
national affairs and that these
are always courteously received"
1t was added:
Nothing however. has come to
the State Department on the sub
ject mentioned which has proved
feasible. Furthermore. the Govern
ment can only conduct important
international affairs effectively
through duly authorized and official
channels created for that purpose"
Secretary Hull said at his press
conference today he had nothing
to add to last nights statement
of the department
Mr.. Davis. whose name has been
linked with International deals in
appropriated Mexican oil. is in New
York, Mr.. Marshall said, adding
that daily paper there was waging
against Mr.. Davis a smear cam
paign. trying to make it appear that
his interest was in selling oil to
Germany and Italy.
He did sell appropriated Mexican
oil to Germany and Italy" said Mr.
Marshall, but it was before the war
started
Mr.. Marshall added that before
associating himself with Mr.. Davis
in the No Foreign War Committee
ne had made an exhaustive investi-
CATION OF the oil man. including a
study of court records, and had
found nothing that could reflect on
his character and integrity.
Copy OF Document.
Mr.. Marshall said he had the
only copy of the document Mr.
Davis brought back from Germany
except the one left with Mr.. Berle
Mr.. Davis copies and possibly one
held by certain United States
Senator. The Iowa editor and
publisher would not disclose the
terms of the asserted Nazi peace
offer, except to say he believed it
offered a basis for a lasting peace
based on sound economic principles
and taking into account 1.-The good
neighbor policy which President
Roosevelt has always urged"
Discussing details of Mr. Davis
trip abroad in September, 1899, in
response to questions of newspaper
men, Marshall said repeatedly
Remember, I wasn't there, but ]
have copy of translation of the
document, and Mr.. Davis has told
me what happened"
Mr.. Marshall told of obstacles put
in the way of Mr.. Davis from the
moment he left Washington for
Europe. The captain of the clipper
at Port Washington at first would
not let Mr.. Davis board it, said the
publisher, but reluctantly consented
after the oil man had shown his
passport. his reservation and de-
manded space.
Nazi Representative Stopped.
Georing, according to Mr.. Mar
ShalPs. account, sent Joachim Hertz
let of the Reich Economic Bureau
to accompany Mr.. Davis back to
washington with the peace offer.
Hertzlet was to authenticate" the
document and arrange for a peace
conference, to be called by President
Roosevelt and held in Washington.
But Hertzlet was stopped at Lis
bon, Mr.. Marshall added, and not