Evening star., 1948-05-27
By the Associated Press

Angered members of Congress
ordered a double-barreled In
vestigation today into Voice of
America broadcasts they say
have libeled and misrepresented
the United States.
Senator Ferguson, Republican, OF
Michigan, the Republicans top in
vestigator, will head one by the
Senate.
Representative ChenoWeth. Re-
publican, of Colorado will direct the
House inquiry
Indignation, anger and amaze
ment were mixed in the congress
sional reaction to disclosure that
the broadcasts have told the world
such things as-"New England was
founded by hypocrisy ano Texas by
sin
The importance attached to the
matter was emphasized by the fact
that Senator Vandenberg, Repub-
lican. of Michigan. the Senate
presiding officer and chairman OF
its Foreign Relations Committee,
announced plans for the Senate in
yestigation.
Vandenberg Is Amazed"
Senator Vandenberg said he is
"amazed" by reports OF the broad
casts. He conferred with Chairman
Aiken of the Expenditures Commit
tee Senator Aiken named Senator
Ferguson to dig into the record.
Mr.. Chenoweth said House Ex-
penditures Subcommittee which he
heads will start general investiga-
ton tomorrow.
we have had lot Of complaints
Mir Chenoweth told newsmen. we
want to find out who is responsible
for these programs and for some OF
the script that has been going out
at the taxpayers expense"
Mr.. Chenoweth said officials in
charge of the foreign information
program will be the first witnesses.
NBC Prepared Broadcast.
The programs which stirred up
Congress were prepared and broad
cast by the National Broadcasting
Co. for the Voice of America. NBC
said the writer of the scripts was,
fired and section head was re-
lieved of duty and later resigned.
An NBC spokesman identified the
writer as Rene Borgia. The section
head was Alberto Gandero, now be-
lieved engaged in radio work IN
Cuba, the spokesman said. He ADDED
that the backgrounds and definite
whereabouts of the two were un-
known at NBC.
The spokesman said that the ac-
tuaI broadcasting was performed by
NBC. not through another agency.
Senator Capehart. Republican, OF
Indiana touched off the storm when
he read some of the scripts to the
Senate yesterday.
Government Defended.
Those which particularly angered
Congress members were translatlons
of Spanish-language broadcasts 10
Latin America.
When the House met tc ne
controversy was taken up th
Saving he wanted to keep
record straight Representative
jackson. Republican, of California
reminded the House that Congress
restricted the personnel for the
Voice programs and required prl-
vate enterprise to take over most
of the functions
While the broadcasts complained
about were unfortunate, he said, 1t
was not the act of any Government
department.
Senator Capehart said 100000
words are being broadcast daily by
the Voice. Referring to this. Sem
ator Vandenberg commented to re-
porters:
1T is obvious that there can't be
any real supervision by the Govern
ment over such volume. 1t might
be much better to send out far fewer
words and have strict supervision
over what is sent.
Report Expected Today.
The Senate expected TO receive
today a State Department report
on the broadcaSts heamed to Latin
America. But nothing the depart
ment could say by way Of explana-
tion was likely to lessen senatorial
anger over the series, which pur-
ported to deal with life ana history
in the 46 States, as seen through
the eyes of two travellers.
The department already has ex-
tSee VOICE OF AMERICA, A-5D