Evening star., 1942-02-14
Mrs. Mclean Denies
Better Charges on
Friendship Deal
Got Nothing From Sale,
Nor From | Street
Property, She Says

Charges on the floor of the House
by Representative Better. OF New
York regarding the purchase of the
Friendship estate by the Govern
ment were categorially denied yes
terday in a telegram sent to the
Representative by Mrs. Evalyn
Walsh Mclean.
Mrs. Mclean also denied Mr.. Bel
ter's charges relative to property of
the Mclean estate on I street and
his charges relative to use by the
Red Cross of property at 1920 Mas
sachusetts avenue, property which
she has turned over to the Red Cross
free of rent.
Her telegram follows:
Dear Mr. Better:
MY attention was called to the
remarks made by you on the floor
Of the House about my personal af-
fairs-the sale Of Friendship, the
sale of property located at Fifteenth
and I streets NV. to a group
financed by the Reconstruction
Finance Corp, and the renting Of
1000 Massachusetts avenue NV. to
the Government. I am completely
stunned and astonished that any
man, we won't use the word gentle
man, would be so completely stupid
as to make such statements on the
floor Of the House without first, at
least, trying to find out if there is
any truth in them.
"Your whole statements regarding
me, my actions and the transactions
referred to above are complete and
deliberate lies, except that Friend
ship was sold for 81 ,000, 900. My only
hope is that you will have the
courage to repeat them off the floor
of the House where you cannot claim
immunity as I would take great
pleasure in proving in court there
is not one word of truth in your
statements, but I doubt If you will
have the courage to repeat them
except when you are in position
to claim immunity.
"If you want the truth I will give
it to you. The facts are, I did not
own Friendship; had no interest
in Friendship. Before it was sold to
the Government 1t was owned by
the estate of John r. Mclean. I am
not a beneficiary Of this estate. I
was permitted to live there for
number of years owing to the fact
that I happen to be Mrs. Edward
B. Mclean. I did not receive any
commission on the sale of Friend
ship or any part of the purchase
price. The sale was negotiated by
some real estate brokers. In fact,
when 1t was sold the roof was lit
orally sold from over my head. I
had to find place to live and at
my own expense. I told my children
who are the beneficiaries Of the Nc
Lean estate that 100000 was not
enough for this property.
"The same conditions prevailed
with respect to the sale of the I
street property. This was likewise
owned by the Mclean estate and
the sale was made by the trustees
and handled through independent
real estate brokers. Not one cent Of
the sale price was received by me.
"As for 1000 Massachusetts, ave-
nue., suppose you mean 2020 Mas
sachusetts avenue, as I have no in
terest in 1000 Massachusetts, avenue.
Twenty twenty Massachusetts, ave-
nue. is owned by my mothers estate
of which I am the beneficiary.
"It is not rented to the Govern
ment. Some four or five years ago
I requested the trustees of my
mothers estate to permit the Red
Cross to occupy this building free
of rent and the property was then
turned over to the Red Cross. It
has occupied 1t ever since and Is