Evening star., 1945-11-21
BY ]. A. O'LEARY and
CARTER BROOKE JONES,

Admiral James o. Richardson
retired, told the Pearl Harbo,
Investigating Committee toda,
he was removed summarily from
command of the United State,
Fleet in January, 1941, because
the late Secretary of the Nav,
Knox told him he had "hurt the
Presidents feelings"
The admiral said he was con
vinced this referred to his converse
ton with the late President .Roose
welt at White House luncheon tn,
previous October, when Admira
Richardson opposed keeping tn,
Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor ane
the President, disagreeing, said thi.
was having a restraining inf1uenc,
on Japan.
This was brought out from Ad.
miral Richardson by Senator Fer
guson, Republican, of Michigan
after he had elected from the wit.
ness that one transport was escorted
by armed convoy from Hawaii tt
the Philippines and back in the fall
of 1910 because, he was told, Ger.
man raiders were reported prowline
the Pacific.
Another high light of today's ses-
sion was an assertion by Admiral
Richardson that he believed the
President had it within his power
by acts of Congress, to increase the
number of men Gin the Navy faster
than he did, before Pearl Harbor
Order Issued in Code.
In his previous report to the COM
mittee on the White House con-
versation, Admiral Richardson said
he had dissented firmly from the
Presidents assertion that the pres
ence of the fleet in Hawaii was hav-
ing any influence on Japan. Senator
Ferguson today led up for the first
time to the details of Admiral Rich
ardson's sudden detachment from
command of the fleet.
The order came in a dispatch
January 5, 1941, in a code understood
only by him, the admiral recalled
and it contained orders changing
the assignment of number of Other
officers.
When he reported to Secretary
Knox in Washington about March
"a, in accord with the order, Ad'
miral Richardson said, he found he
was to go on duty with the Navy
General Board.
"I said, in effect, to the Secretary.
Admiral Richardson added, that il
all my experience I never knew O.
a flag officer detached from com
mand of the United States Fleet il
the same manner I had been, ane
I felt I owed it to myself to know
why.
"The Secretary stated that th'
President would send for me ane
talk the matter over"
And did the President send fol
you?" Senator Ferguson asked.
He did not"
Did you ever talk to him abou
why you we're detached from th'
commando"
BY no means" said the admiral
Transfer Cost Rank.
Asked whether his new assign
nIent was a promotion, Admira
Richardson said it was not, and h,
pointed out that it required him tt
revert from his temporary rank O.
admiral to his permanent rank O.
rear admiral.
The secretary later said to him
when there was further discussion
of the reason for the change, "ad.
miral, you hurt the Presidents feel
ings."
did he say on what occasion yo,
hurt his feelings?" Senator Fergu.
son inquired.
"No, he did not. But my feeling
too would have been hurt If a subor
dinate had disagreed with ME ans
I could not change his mind"
do you think it referred to you
conversation with the President OF
October 8, 1940?"
II think So"
"You were rather definite in tn,
INoytin,Ied an, po0o 40 Coj,,,,o,, .