Evening star., 1945-12-14
Mitchell, Entire Staff
Resign From Probe Of
Pearl Harbor Attack
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Pearl Hdrb0r Attack
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which the public could have any con-
fidenee."
There are 10 members on the COM
mittee, and at times the croSs-ex-
animation by one member has taken
an entire day. Chairman Barkley
observed, that at the present rate
of progress, he would not predict
how long it will take to complete the
investigation.
In his formal statement, Mr.
Mitchell pointed out that, at the end
of a month, so witnesses remain to
be called.
Hearings Started November Is.
Mr.. Mitchell said that when he
was retained, he believed his serv-
ices would not be required beyond
early January. He pointed to the
congressional resolution setting up
the committee, which instructed it
to report back to Congress by Jan
uary 3.
THE point we have reached in
the hearings" he added. makes it
evident that a complete replace
ment of the committees legal staff
is necessary"
The committee began hearings
November Is, Mr.. Mitchell recalled,
and has been sitting regularly for
a month. including all Saturdays
but one" He added:
During that period only eight
witnesses have been completely ex-
amlned and we estimate that as the
field Of inquiry by committee mem
bers has widened out and new wit
nesSes have been added to the list.
there remain at least 80 witnesses to
be examined. Many of these wit
nesses are quite as crucial as those
who have testified. At the rate of
progress during the past month, it
seems certain that several more
months will be required"
The former Attorney General told
the committee: "All of my staff ac-
cepted their places on my expecta-
tlon and assurance that they would
not be held for any considerable
time after January l. My own obli-
cations and responsibilities put me
in the same position"
Barkley Expresses Regret.
After Mr.. Mitchell had read the
statement Senator Barkley ex-
pressed his deep regret, terming the
development tragedy"
The Kentuckian recalled that Mr.
Mitchell had served for four years
as Solicitor General in the Coolidge
administration and for four years as
Attorney General under President
Hoover. He said Mr.. Mitchell was
chosen unanimously, after telling
the committee he was not seeking
additional duties, but would serve if
the committee asked him.
The committee asked him to Sc
lect his own staff" Senator Barkley
continued, and no injunction or
suggestion was made to him that
there should be any partisanship in
the choice of the legal staff The
chair does not know whether the
members of the legal staff are Dem
ocrats or Republicans.
Service to Committee Praised.
The chair feels and would like
to say to the entire staff that in his
more than 80 years of experience in
public life, he does not recall a more
diligent or painstaking service than
they have rendered this committee. -
Senator Barkley revealed that Mr..
Mitchell informed him last night of
his intention to resign, and that the
chairman tried without success to
diSsuade him.
ut IS, in my opinion, tragedy
that we are to lose the services of
these gentlemen" Senator Barkley
continued. ITO select new counsel
involves difficulty I cannot fully
foresee. The chair does not know
whether it will be possible at all to
select counsel"
Senator Barkley then sprang the
second surprise of the morning by
suggesting his own continuance is
in doubt.
The chairman did not seek
appointment to this committee
although he as the author of the
investigating resolution" said Sen
ator Barkley. "On the contrary. !
spent days arguing with the pre-
siding officer of the Senate.
Will Weigh Obligations.
"It is we'll known that my time
is fully occupied with the duties of
majority leader. I must, in my own
mind, decide whether I have any
further duty to the committee and
whether it outweighs my obligations
to the Senate as a whole. In the
next few days will weigh my OBJ
legations to the committee and tt
the Senate and if l decide my obli-
cations to the Senate make it neces.
sary I shall thereupon surrender
my membership and resign. If
should conclude I can render any
further service to the committee
I shall continue"
Senator Lucas, Democrat. of Hi.
nois concurred in all that Senators
Barkley and George had said ane
expressed the hope that Mr.. Mitchell
and his staff would continue unit
January 3.
1T may be that by that time We
will be better able to assess the
length of time the hearings will