Evening star., 1941-07-30
Stimson's S Apology
To Wheeler Closes
Post Card Incident
Knox Calls on Senator
And Explains Action on
Sons Commission
b, the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press
The battle of the post cards" was
ended today with a public apology
by Secretary of War Stimson to Sem
ator Wheeler, Democrat, of Mon
tana.
In statement issued through the
War Department last night Secre-
tary Stimson said he did not believe
Senate Wheeler had any intent ito
circularize the soldiers in the train
ing camps" with anti-war post cards.
Some of the thousands sent out
through use of a commercial mailing
list reached soldiers.
The cabinet officer said he was
"sorry' for the statement he issued
IN a press conference last Thursday
in which he said Senator Wheeler's
activity in sending the cards comes
very near the line of subversive &C
tivity against the United States, if
not treason.
Senator Wheeler said he thought
Mr.. Stimson's apology was "a very
decent thing for him to do"
Knox Calls on Senator.
Meanwhile, It was disclosed last
night that Secretary of the Navy
Knox had paid a personal call on
Senator Wheeler to explain how Mr.
Wheeler's 23-year-old son Richard
first was denied naval commission,
then was granted it.
The incident of the commission
was related to the Senate Monday
by Senator Walsh, Democrat, of
Massachusetts,, who said an un-
named admiral had asked Richard
whether he shared his fathers views
on national policy. When young
Wheeler replied in the affirmative,
Senator Walsh said, the admiral
then asserted there Is no place in
the Navy for you"
Senator Walsh added that Sec
retary Knox subsequently reviewed
the file on young Wheeler's appli-
cation and ordered the commission
granted.
An aide to Senator Wheeler said
last night that Secretary Knox fol-
lowed up this action last week by
paying a personal call on the Mon
tanan to explain personally what
had happened.
President Roosevelt yesterday dis
claimed any knowledge of the naval
status of Richard Wheeler and re-
proved a reporter who asked him
about it.
Question Called Improper.
Mr.. Roosevelt told the reporter
his question was improper. He
added that it obviously would have
to be referred to Secretary Knox
since he knew nothing about the
affair.
Mr.. Stimson issued the following
statement through the press rela-
tions officer at the War Depart
ment:
An inquiry now being made by
the War Department of the post
Offices of the larger cantonements
of the Army indicates that not
three but at least several hundred
of the circulars sent out by Senator
Wheeler did reach soldiers of the
United States Army.
The inquiry has also developed
evidence of organized attempts, by
other persons, to arouse disloyalty
on the part of the soldiers in the
cantonments towards the training
plans of their officers. The danger
to the national defense of such at
tempts is obvious and will receive
the careful attention of the depart
ment.
"On the basis of Senator Wheeler's
statement in the Senate as to the
time and method of the issuance of
his circular, believe that he has
shown the absence of any intent
on his part to circularize the
soldiers in the training camps.
am sorry that on the basis of in
complete evidence I made a state
ment last week which carried a
contrary implication.
When Mr.. Stimson read his earlier
statement about Senator Wheeler
to his press conference last Thurs
day he displayed two postcards re-
ceived by soldiers In which they
were urged to write the President
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