Evening star., 1941-01-24
Democrats 10 Hear
High Defense Chiefs
In Secret Session
Republicans Insist
On Open Meeting
And stoy Awoy
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(Continued From First Page)
had announced at 4 pm. yesterday
that Mr.. Fish had invited them.
When the chairman finally called
the committee to order, there was
no witness in the chair and Mr..
Bloom made motion for an execu-
tive session. Representative Vorys,
Republican, of Ohio asked if there
had been a vote on the executive
session, whereupon Mr.. Bloom
called the roll.
The result was II to 8 on party
lines, the Republicans voting
against meeting in secret.
Losers Won't Go Along.
When the Democrats retired to
q closed Office, Representative Fish
with with them long enough to state
his side of the controversy and then
left, announcing he did not wish to
be bound by the action of the
majority.
While the Democrats were closet
ed two floors above, deciding what
course to take. the Republicans re-
mained In the hearing room mark
ing time.
Mr.. Fish told reporters he felt sure
the general and admiral were per-
fectly willing to appear in open
session, but charged they had been
advised to take a different course.
According to Mr.. Fish, he first
called them by telephone early yes
terday, in accordance with authority
that had been given him to invite
minority witnesses He went to
Philadelphia last night to make a
speech and on returning to his Office
this morning found message from
the officers telling of the change in
the situation. He said he talked to
them again this morning, and gained
the impression they were willing to
appear at an open hearing.
Mr.. Fish told reporters he thought
sthe majority of the committee are
afraid of what they Gen. Marshall
and Admiral Stark might say after
what Col. Lindbergh told the COM
mittee yesterday about air bases
and the absence of danger of inva-
sion"
Mr.. Fish said among other ques-
tions he wanted to ask them why
we have only 200 combat planes
when Col. Lindbergh suggested TO-
000," and why I'VE do not have the
South American air bases suggested
. year and half ago."
After the executive session, the
Democrats issued the following
statement:
"The Democratic members of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House have authorized the
chairman. Representative Sol Bloom,
to issue the following statement:
THE full committee, in a prior
executive session, had authorized
Representative Fish, the ranking
minority member, to invite what
ever witnesses he wished as minority
witnesses Representative Fish in
vited Admiral Stark, Gen. Marshall
and Gen. Brett (acting chief of the
Army Air Corps.
"Subsequent to the invitations IS
sued by Mr.. Fish and after their
names had been announced at Mr..
Fish's request, the witness, in con-
versation with the chairman of the
committee. asked whether or not
the committee had invited them to
appear as witnesses, to which the
chairman replied that the commit
tee had authorized Mr.. Fish to in
vite such witnesses as he desired
as minority witnesses The wit
nesses suggested committee invi-
tation and stated that they pre-
ferred to be heard in executive ses-
sion.
Gen. Marshall's Letter.
Gen. Marshall, chief of staff,
wrote a letter to Representative
Hamilton Fish, furnishing a carbon
copy to Chairman Bloom, which
read as follows:
"'My Dear Mr.. Fish:
with reference to your invita-
tion for me to appear before the
Foreign Affairs Committee in con-
nectien with H. r. 1776, I was in
formed by the chairman of the COM
mittee last night that my presence
had not been requested by the COM
mittee.
"In view of the fact that my testi-
mony would be that of the chief of
staff Of the Army, rather than that
OF an individual, would prefer to
appear on the request of the COM
mittee. I take the liberty of sug-
gesting that if my presence is de-
sired by the committee, the hearing
be in executive session in order that
I might make complete and frank
replies to the questions that prob
ably would be asked
"In view of the above facts, the
majority members of the committee
have met this morning and unani-
mously agreed to extend and have
extended to Admiral Stark, Gen.
Marshall and Gen. Brett invitations
L.