Evening star., 1945-11-27

STAR, Washington, D. C.
NOVEMBER ~, IeAs.
measures against Japan, and that's
what was done"
Seeks to Call Army Board.
Before the hearing resumed today
Senator Lucas called for an explana-
tion from the Army Board as to how
1t arrived at conclusions critical of
Mr.. Hull.
Cross-eXamined late yesterday by
Senator Lucas, Mr.. Grew denied he
told the Amy Board a year ago
that Mr.. Hull's final note to Japan
on November 26. 1941. touched the
button that started the war"
Mr.. Grew said the widely quoted
statement. attributed to him in the
Army Board report, was an erro-
neous summing up of his earlier
testimony before the Army investi-
gators.
What he told the Army Board
was that the japanese construed
the Hull message as an ultimatum
that touched the button, Mr.. Grew
testified. He said he told the Army
investigators his own opinion was
that this view of Mr.. Hull's 10
point proposal was totally un-
sound and without basis"
Lucas Wants Explanation.
Senator Lucas had asked Mr..
Grew to comment on this statement
in the Army report:
1T was the document that touched
the button that started the war, as
Ambassador Grew so aptly ex-
pressed it."
Senator Lucas said that, "As
one member of the committee, I
would like an explanation from the
Army Board, in view of Mr.. Crews
testimony both before that board
and before this committee yester-
day."
Declaring that there are some
other things in the Army report
that are inconsistent" Senator Lu-
cas- said he would not be surprised
II one or more members of that
board are asked to testify before
the inquiry is over.
Another Point in Report.
At another point in it's report the
Army Board said: Whether or not
the Secretary of State. Mr.. Hull.
now disclaims that this document
of the 26th was an ultimatum. AM
bassador Grew testifies that the
japanese so regarded it,"
The members of the Army Board
of Inquiry were 1t. Gen. George
Grunert, Maj. Gen. Henry D. Rus
sell and Maj. Gen. Walter H. Frank.
Senator Ferguson said he would
question Mr.. Grew as to why he told
high Japanese officials in June, 1941.
that the presence of the American
fleet in Hawaiian waters constitutes
no threat whatsoever to Japan" Sew
eral other witnesses have testified
the fleet was kept there as a deter
ring influence on Japan against
further aggression.
Calls 1t Balanced Document.
Mr.. Grew stanchly defended Mr..
Hull's final note to the japanese as
a carefully balanced" document.
Have you any knowledge as to
why the Army Board reached such
a strained conclusion in regard to
your testimony" Senator Lucas
asked Mr.. Grew.
i never could understand that"
Mr.. Grew replied.
Representative Gearhart, Repub-
lican, of California, praised Mr..
Hull's final note of November 26 as
a grand" state document, but in
sisted it was an ultimatum. He was
unable, however, during a long
series of questions, to get Mr.. Grew
to agree that it was an ultimatum.
Mr.. Grew conceded that it con-
tanned some basic principles that
would have required the Japs to
withdraw from conquered areas,
but he insisted Mr.. Hull also had
offered Japan some real assets
in the form of access to raw mate
rials and other advantages if it
halted its program of aggression.
I'm trying to get you to admit
that the document was what every
American in hfs heart wanted it to
be-" said Mr.. Gearhart. II don't
see why we should dodge the word
ultimatum.
Brewster Quizzes Grew.
Senator Brewster wanted to know
to what extent Mr.. Grew in
Tokyo was consulted about the con-
tinued export of scrap iron and oil
from this country to Japan before
the war.
The witness said he could not