Evening star., 1949-04-27
6. 0. P. Demands Full
Senate Inquiry Into
Sullivan Resignation
By John A. Giles

Republican Senators demanded
today a detailed investigation of
the resignation of Secretary OF
the Navy Sullivan as some Navy
officials expressed the hope that
such an inquiry might afford an
opportunity for them to express
themselves on military matters.
Mr.. Sullivan quit yesterday with
a blast at Defense Secretary
johnson for halting construction
of the Nays superaircraft car
rier. He said the defense chief
took the action without consulting
or informing the Navy.
Mr.. Johnson, who abruptly
stopped the construction of the
$139 900, 900 carried Saturday in
terse order to Mr.. Sullivan, has
issued a directive which keeps
military officials from making any
public comments without first
clearing" them with his Office.
Therefore. Navy officers have
ben silent on the supercarrier
action and Mr.. Sullivan's letter
was the first expression of the
Nays feelings in the matter.
Republicans Ask Inquiry.
While Chairman Tydings of the
Senate Armed Services Committee
called the matter a closed incl
dent" Republican committee |
members said they thought the1
group should dig deeper into the
dispute.
Democrats appeared willing to
follow Senator Tydings unless Mr.. |
Sullivan himself should ask a con-
gressional airing of his differences
with Mr.. Johnson-a move Mr..
Sullivan appeared unwilling to
take.
The Navy Secretary, who ex-
poets to leave Office ''in a few
days or as soon as clean I'D nv
desk" told The Star today that
he mad no plans to ask the Sena-
tors for a hearing. However, he
indicated he would be glad to ap-
pear II the lawmakers made the
first move.
Senator Bridges, Republican, of
New Hampshire. told reporters he
thought there was "an under
standing" with Senator Tydings
to call up Mr.. Sullivan for an
explanation "in view of the con-
hicting statements that have been
banded about"
Releases Letter to Johnson.
Shortly after his resignation
was released by the White House,
Mr.. Sullivan released his letter to
Mr.. johnson In which he said
the latter acted arbitrarily" and
in an unprecedented" manner in
hating the carrier-which was
opposed by the Air Force .fromsits
inception.
Mr.. Sullivan saw the conse-
quences of Mr.. Johnson's action
as tragic and added that 1t
might Aeah to addititnAl whiting
away Of naval functions.
He said that the Defense chiefs
action represents the first at
tempt ever made in this country
to prevent the development of q
powerful weapon" and added that
"the conviction that this will re-
suit in a renewed effort to abolish
the Marine Corps and to transfer
all Naval and Marine, aviation
elsewhere adds to my anxiety"
Suggestions that the Marine
Corps be absorbed by the Army
and that Navy and Marine avia-
tion be transferred to the Air
Force have been advanced previ-
ously..
johnson Issues Statement.
Mr.. johnson dismissed the Sui
Ivan letter with a brief statement
from his office:
i regret very much that my
old friend and colleague. John L.
Sullivan, has joined the aircraft
carrier issue on personal grounds,
and I believe that he, too, will
regret his action"
The resignation of Mr.. Sullivan
left another top defense post open
which was sure to be hard to fill
in view of Mr.. Sullivan's letter.
Prominently mentioned for the
post Is Jonathan Daniels, Raleigh,
N. c., editor and son of the late
Josephus Daniels. once Secretary
Of the Navy.
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