Evening star., 1945-12-05
/ Iator Ferguson said 1t was impossible
Ito read them Immediately.

lator Ferguson said 1t was impossible
Ito read them Immediately.
Brewster Interrupts.
When Gen. Gerow started to read
| q prepared summary of his testi-
mony on the responsibilities Of the
Army and Navy for the defense OF
Hawaii, Senator Brewster, Repub-
ilican, Of Maine interrupted to ask
how long committee counsel had
been holding this statement.
Il would like to know" Mr.
Mitchell retorted, whether the wit
ness is being interrogated or coun-
sci is being cross-examined. don't
feel that counsel is subject to any
criticism. We have done the best
we could In supplying members OF
the committee with papers as far
in advance as possible. We have
practically every Government MINI
leographing machine working on
| this"
| Mr.. Mitchell placed In the record
| q letter former Secretary OF Wal
Stimson and former Secretary Of the
Navy Knox addressed to Mr.. Roose-
welt on June 2, 1941, transmitting
the results OF the United States
British war plan discussions held
here between January and March
1941, which read:
Dear Mr.. President.
"The joint board has prepared
joint Army and Navy basic war plar
Rainbow No. 5-Which with the
report OF United States British staff
conversations concluded on March
27, I94l, we have approved, and now
transmit them for your considera-
ton, recommending your approval
Joint Army and Navy basic plan
Rainbow No. Sis based upon agree
ments contained In the report o1
United States British stan conver.
sations."
Joint Army and Navy basic wal
plan--Rainbow No. 5, states the con-
cept of war and provides for initial
dispositions and operations of United
States forces, should the United
States associate in war with the de-
mocracies against the totalitarian
powers. AS such, 1t constitutes the
basic directive for United States
Army and naval forces in war
effort"
THE War and Navy Departments
have been advised that the report
of United States-British staff con-
versations has been agreed to provi-
sionally by the British chiefs of staff
and that it has been submitted to
the British government for ap-
proval."
Roosevelt Withheld Approval.
Within week Mr.. Roosevelt had
returned the plans to the Chief of
Staff without his approval, but with
the understanding they would be
returned to him in the event Of war
This was shown in the following
memorandum to Gen. Marshall on
June 8, from 1t. Col. w. P. Scobey
secretary to the joint board:
The President on June 7. 1941
returned the two subject plans with
out approval. In explanation of the
Presidents failure to approve oi
disapprove the plans, his military
aide, Maj Gen. E. M. Watson, stated
to the undersigned in substance a.
! follows:
1.-The President has familiarizec
himself with the two papers; but
since the report of the United
States British staff conversations
Abel, had not been approved by
the British government, he woulc
not approve the report at this time
neither would he now give approva
to joint Army and Navy basic wal
plan-Rainbow No. 5, which is basec
upon the report Abel. However
in case of war the papers would bs
returned to the President for hi
approval"
The hemisphere defense agreement
with Canada was submitted to th<
President by Secretaries Stimsor
and Knox on August 20, l941, in &
| letter in which they described 1t a!