The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-08-30
Notion's s 1941 Policy
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And every time MT. Roosevelt in statements tried to arouse the coun- try to the need for preparedness, he was "vilified," MT. Truman said.
 And thus, the president added, his primary thought was the coun- try as whole, more than any in dividuals, was to blame for the Pearl Harbor disaster.
 No Court MartiaIs
 He said he had no intention of ordering courts martial for any of the officers involved, but that he had no objection to such courts martial being held.
 (The army and navy have stated that they have no intention of or dering any trials0
 A reported observed that Maj. Gen. Walter H. Short and Rear Ad- miral Husband E. Kimmel, who up until the time of the reports yes- terday had been the most frequent ly blamed armed service comman- ders, wanted trials to be held in or der to put their side of the story before the public.
 The president said he had no ob- lection to their side of the story being told, and agreed with a re- porter's suggestion that Short and Kimmel could make statements without going through courts mar tial.
 The President took sharp issue with Rep. Andrew J. May, D., Ky, chairman of the House military af- fairs committee, who expressed fear that the Army and Navy reports on Pearl Harbor might constitute a white wash'.
 The President said he did not agree. Furthermore, he said, he did not think May had read the re- ports because in his, the Presidents opinion, there was no white wash.
 Many congressional critics insist ed that the administration still has not told all.
 The official story, as released by President Truman in thre eseparate and frequently conflicting docu- ments, placed varying degrees o1 blame for this country,s first anc worst defeat in World War II upon
 1. The Army and Navy comman' ders on the scene.
 2. The Army and Navy staff chiefs and others in Washington. 3. The architects of the coun- try,s Pre-Pearl Harbor diplomacy. Specifically named as sharing cul- pability for the defeat of Dec. q 1941, were then Secretary of State Cordell Hull, Gen. George o. Mar shall, Army chief of staff; Admiral Harold R. Stark. then chief of Maya Operations; It. Gen. Leonard T. Gerow, then a major general ir charge of the war plans division o1 the War Department General Staff Mai. Gen. Walter C. Short, ther commander of the Army's Hawaiian Husband E. Kimmel, then comman. der-in-chief of the U. s. Pacific fleet.
 It was the first time that an! blame had bene rubbed officially or Hull, Marshall, and Stark.
 Secretary of War Henry l.. Stim son in separate statement defend ed both Marshall and Hull. Presi dent Truman added his voice to tn, defense of Marshall.
 | No official made any effort v wipe the smirch from Stark, GeroW Short and Kimmel.
 In no part of the official stor was any blame directly attached t the late President Roosevelt. l seemed evident, however, that Hull major decisions bore MrsRoosevelt' advance approval. And Hull cam | in for. a large slice of blame 10 precipitating the Japanese attack.
 This blame was voiced in the re port of an Army Investigating boart which also severely criticized Mar shall, Gerow and Short.
 The condemnation of Stark ant Kimmel came from Secretary o Navy James Forrestal and Admira Ernest J. King. commander-in-chie of the U. s. Fleet who succeeded Stark as chief of naval operation after Pearl Harbor.
 No Whitewashing
 Tn demanding court martial trials May said he wanted to establish who, through possible criminal ne glect," was to blame for the lives ships and planes lost at Pearl liar bor.
 "I do not May said, propose t. stand for any whitewash of tn matter in any respect Let the trutl be told"
 Both the War and Navy Depart ments said they did not conside court martial proceedings warrante' against anyone. MT. Truman, how ever. said that if it develops tha court martial proceedings wer necessary. the men involved wouls have a prompt and fair trial.
 Meanwhile the House and Senat Naval Military Affairs Committee