Evening star., 1946-02-06


ber of the Allied Reparations COM
mission. At an earlier period he
was secretary to the National Com
mittee.
Adding to his original charges,
Mr.. Ickes quoted Mr.. Pauley as
telling him In February, 1945, that
he had raised 100000 during the
campaign, that $500, 900 of it had
come from California oil interests
and that "it would be great mis-
take to disturb those interests"
United States Suit Filed Last Year.
The Government suit claiming
title to the tidelands, which had
been under discussion for several
years, was filed last year, after
President Truman entered the
White House, but Mr.. Ickes testified
yesterday that the Attorney Cen
eral had cleared it with President
Roosevelt before he died. He said
the Attorney General asked him
about the matter after Mr.. Roose-
velt's death, and Mr.. Ickes said
he advised him to get clearance
again from Mr.. Truman, which
was done.
The suit is still awaiting decision.
Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary
Committee in the midst of hearings
on bill, already passed by the
House, which would nullify the suit
by reafirming the States claim to
ownership of the tidelands.
After Mr.. Ickes had completed
his latest testimony, Senator Tobey,
Republican of New Hampshire, lead
ing questioner OF the nomination,
asked Mr.. Pauley if he cared to
comment.
Mr.. Pauley, who had previously
denied linking campaign contribu-
tions with the tidelands suit in talk
ing to Mr.. Ickes in the fall of 1914,
at first replied, "I'll make my COM
ments later"
Before the hearing adjourned for
the day, however, ne arose again
and SAID that, while Mr.. Ickes was
present he wanted the record to
show, IT still say Mr.. Ickes is mis-
taken, that he got the wrong inter-
probation from my conversation
We'll, perhaps don't understand
the English language" observed Mr.
1ckes, who was still seated in the
witness chair, directly in front of
Mr.. Pauley.
Senator Brewster. Republican, of
Maine, interrupted to ask Mr.. Ickes
If he is sure he did not misunder-
stand Mr.. Pauley.
,"Oh, of course, no possible doubt
of it," said the Interior head.
When Mr. Ickes came back for his
second appearance, Senator Tobey
told him Mr.. Pauley had denied the
Secretary's earlier testimony.
For which am sorry" Mr.. Ickes
observed, as he began to unfold the
memoranda he had brought with
him, which he said were written
after his various conversations with
Pauley since 1912.
Principal Charge.
One, containing the principal
charge, was dated September 6, 1914.
and follows:
MIR. Hannegan had come in.
alone, to explain the Chicago con-
vention. Then Mr.. Pauley came in
with Mr.. Paul Porter, the latter to
ask me to participate in a program
of five-minute talks on the air, there
being a lack of funds for fuI-time
broadcasts. Mr.. Pauley asked to
stay on after the other two. In the
meantime, I had brought in Under
secretary Fortas and it was at this
point that Pauley brought up the
question of off-shore oil in Cali
fornia. He had talked with the
President, he said, and the President
had told him to talk to me. Pauley
said that he could raise $500, 900
from the oil men in California, who
have interests in Off shore oil, If
they could be assured that the Fed
eral Government would not try to
assert title to these oil lands. told
him that could not give him any
such assurance, pointing to the fact
that the whole issue would have
been settled long time ago if had
not been blocked. I explained to
him that if these titles were in the
State of California, no harm would
be done by us having the court pass
upon the question. On the other
hand, if title actually were in the
United States, as some lawyers be-
lieved that it was, it would make a
pretty scandal involving not only
me, but the President and himself,
if should agree not to try to assert
title.
II pointed out that Government
royalties were less than those of the