Evening star., 1949-08-28

PllCdGlO3b 10 O1ldI G4lC NOFC1 AAAA1CAAS
lost heavily. This is anything
but the fact. The property was
originally acquired by the Navy
for 81 300, 900. The property con-
sisted of 167 acres, improved with
a luxury resort hotel. swimming
pool and beautiful 18-hole gol1
course. Five years later they were
able to re-acquire the hotel which
in the interim. had been used as
a Navy barracks, and from which
all of the original furnishings anc
furniture had been removed, in
Guiding valuable carpets and
tapestry. The swimming pool had
been filled in with cement and was
used as a gun emplacement. They
still have not been able to get
back the golf course. The Seidens
had to pay the Government $685.
900 for the property. they did gel
back. They also had to pay the
United Nations over 100000 for
the furniture which the United
Nations had installed in the hotel
and which was wholly unsuitable
for its use as a luxury resort. Ac-
tually. the Seidens have had to
spend approximately an addi-
tional 81 900 900 to put their prop
erty in usable shape.
%. have read the testimony
of Messrs. Flanagan, Schulman
Maher and Woods relating to my
participation in the Tanforan race
track matter. The memoranda
from my files which were read
into the record by Mr.. Flanagan
and the testimony OF Messrs
Schulman, Maher and Woods, all
conform in every respect with my
own recollection on the subject.
20. I have read the testimony OF
Gen. Feldman, Mr.. Pierre r. Welct
and Mr.. Flanagan with respect te
my part in obtaining for Cyclic
Chemical Co. an amendment o1
it's agreement to purchase Aeroso
bombs from War Assets Admin
stration. The testimony conforms
entirely to my recollection. I must
however, disagree with Gen. Field
mans conclusion that the matter
would have solved itself without
my aid. would like to point
out that the Army had been try.
ing to repossess the Aerosol bomb:
since April and had been writing
WAA to that effect. Cyclic Chem
ical Co. had been trying to be
relieved of its obligation to take
the last 850,000 of such bombs fol
several weeks and had been hound.
ing WAA in an effort to get thi!
relief. Obviously the Army's let
ters and the letters Of Mr.. Welch's
company never reached the same
desk or the whole matter might
have been solved without any in.
tervention on my part.
Met Larson In 1946.
80. I served through the wal
as a quartermaster officer. frs
met Gen. Herman Feldman wher
he returned from North Africa
about 1943. My Office did volun-
tarily report to Col. Evans on the
approval of the Presidents nomi-
nation of Gen. Feldman to the
post Of quartermaster general be-
fore the Senate committee.
81. I first met Mr.. Jess Larson
when he came with the War AS
sets Administration in the spring
of 1916. came to know him well
in the ensuing months and have
enjoyed a cordial relationship with
him ever since. I have a high
regard for the ability of Mr.. Lar
son. I would like to clarity sew
eral statements that have been
made in the press regarding my
with, his appointment
as War Assets Administrator
What actually happened is this:
About a week before Mr.. Larson's
as War Assets Ad-
ministrator, I was in DR.. Steel
mans Office in the White House
on a Saturday, discussing an en-
tirely different matter. At the
of this discussion, DR.
Steelman mentioned to me that
Mr.. Larson was one of several
people being considered asa sue
cessor to Gen. Littlejohn for the
post of War Assets Administrator
and asked me what I thought of
him. I told DR.. Steelman that ]
had the very highest regard for
Mr.. Larson's ability but stated
that, in view of the terrific strain
of the job, and of his impaired
physical condition due to severe
war wounds and ensuing compli-
cations, I doubted whether Col.
Larson should undertake such, a
grave responsibility.
A few moments after leaving
DR.. Steelman and while still in
the White House I met Col. Lar
son. He knew that he was being
considered for the job. I reviewed
the conversation with him, point
ing out that Gen. Gregory re-
signed due to the strain .on his
He thanked me sincerely
for my, interest and invited me to
his WAA Office to discuss it fur
ther. At his Office he told me that
he had excellent reasons for want
ing to be administrator Che was
then general counsel? and felt
that he could stand the strain.
Knew Watt Since He Was IL.
80. I have known Gen. Alden H
Watt since was II years old
when he was In high school in
Medford, Mass, and I was in
grade school. I am proud to claim
him rs one of my oldest and best
friends. The testimony to date
of South Carolina; Feighan, DEM
ocrat, of Ohio; Wilson. Democrat
of Texas; Reed, Republican, of Il
linois; Fellows, Republican, OF