The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-05-05

A lot OF by-play took place
bac&slagc before Knox made his
correction. Some senator's are
now wondering whether, II things
like this are fumbled, there Isn't
entirely too much fumbling with
other things n lot more precious
than public regulations.
Here Is the inside story OF what
happened
Before publishing It's report,
the Truman Committee sent five
copies 10 Secretary Knox and
his chief admlralS, also 10 Ad-
miral Emory Land Of the Mari
time Commission. All were no
tilted that unless there was OBJ
lection 10 the report II would
be published In three days. In
addition, a representative Of the
Navy was allowed TO read the
report several weeks In advance
and make any suggestions.
After the report was published
however, Admiral r. s. Edwards,
assistant to Vice Admiral Fred
Horne, OF Naval Operations, wrote
Il memo for the Secretary Of the
Navy raising objections to the
Truman Committees report.
KNOX SOUNDS OFF
Secretary Knox happened TO
have Edwards memo on his desk
Just ten minutes before press
conference. And without con-
sulting press adviser Capt, Le-
land Loyette, he proceeded to
sound off to newsmcn about the
inaccuracy OF the Truman Com
mittee and Its estimates on ship
ping losses.
What Knox didn't know was
that he had in his own files
copy OF the Truman Committee
report sent well In advance, and
to which he had made no objec-
ton. Also he didn't know that
the Truman Committee had Sc
cured It's submarine disaster fig
ures from the War Shipping Adj
ministration, which has good rea-
son TO know what the losses were,
because It's ships were sunk, and
1t builds requirements. Finally
the Truman Committee had let
ter from Admiral Land certifying
the accuracy of its figures.
So after reading Knoxs blast,
the Truman Committee delegated
Senator Brewster OF Maine, a fell
low Republican, to call on Knox.
Brewster gently reminded him OF
he above facts, then said:
1.-THE Committee would like to
have you appear before a public
hearing, Mr.. Secretary, TO an
swer some questions. We feel
the public Is entitled 10 know the
facts and have this confusion
cleared up"
Knox, a fair-minded man when
he knows all the facts, scrubbed
a brief statement on a piece Of
paper, handed it to Brewster.
"WiIl this do?" he said.
Brewster said it would. 1t was
fair and fortnight acknowledge
ment Of error.
KNOWS AIDES RETREAT
Later, however, Knox's aides,
red-faced, got to work. They fixed
up a longer, wagner, circum-
loquacious statement which would
have had the effect of further
-onfusing the public. The Adlai
Stevenson, grandson of the Vice
President of the United States
under Grover Cleveland and one
of Knox's better aides, took the
statement to the Truman Commit
tee.
Members of the Committee
frowned. The revised statement,
they felt, further befogged the
issue.
what became of the state
ment Secretary Knox wrote
himself?" they asked.
II threw that in the waste
basket" replied Stevenson.
So the Truman Committee re-
quired Stevenson to phone to the
Navy Department and have the
original statement fished out OF
knox's waste basket. A little
later, word came TO the Truman
Committee that the Navy would
publish the admission of error
exactly as Knox originally wrote
it.
Unfortunately the incident has
left a bad taste with the Senate
and other people regarding the
Nays accuracy on lot OF other
public statements. including eS-
cort vessels and helicopters.
OPA CIVIL WAR
Increased prices for all articles
sold in grocery stores are threat