Evening star., 1949-08-25
Truman Name Helped
Clear Maragon for
His Trip 10 Italy
CONTINUED From First PageJ

II
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was made in an Army Air Trans.
port Command plane.
Plane Space Scarce.
Francis d. Flanagan. assistant
eommitte counsel. introduced tht
various documents. including thu
State Department memorandum.
Mr.. Flanagan said "JFS" was
Mr.. Scanlon," assistant to
Mrs. Shipley.
Senator Mundt, commenting
that he thinks Mr.. Truman prob
ably" had no personal knowledge
OF what Gen. Vaughan was do
ing, asked Mr.. Flanagan whether
Gen. Vaughan had interceded
with Mrs. Shipley-"with or with
out the knowledge Of the Presi-
dent, and In my opinion probably
without the knowledge Of the
President"
MIR. Flanagan: That's correct" /"
Senator Mccarthy, when Mr..
Flanagan told Of the ATC trips,
observed that the trips were made
at . time when space on ATC
was "at premium because Of the
very great number Of hospital
cases that had to be brought back
to this country"
Text Of Memorandum.
Following Is the text Of the
memo:
August 3, 1945.
Memorandum for Mrs. Ruth b.
shipley. Chief, Passport Bureau.
State Department.
Attention: Mr.. E. L. Reeves.
"Mr. John r. Maragon, execu-
tive for the Albert Verley Company
Of Chicago is arranging to visit the
Continent. including the northern
part of Italy, for the purpose of re-
establishing negotiations for es-
sential oils for the above company.
II will appreciate your arrang-
ing with the proper authorities so
that Mr.. Maragon may visit the
above area for the purpose stated.
"/Sl H. H. Vaughan.
HARRY H. VAUGHAN,
"Brigadier General. U. 8. Army.
military Aide to the President.
(Pencil note.)
"Col. Vaughan informed Mrs.
Shipley that the President is per-
sonally interested in Maragon's
trip to Italy-Col. s. agrees that
he is I'D. JFS 8/28l45."
Letter Introducing Bennett.
The committee was told that
Gen. Vaughan also succeeded in
getting permission for Mr.. Ben
nett, to enter the British zone of
Occupied Germany after the re-
quest for this permission was
1atly turned down by the Army's
Civil Affairs Division.
The first of the series of Incl
dents involving Mr.. Bennett and
Mr.. Maragon, according to the
testimony. came In May, 1945,
when Gen. Vaughan. then q col
onel, wrote a ito whom it may
concern" letter on White House
stationary. The letter introduced
Mr.. Bennett as "a prominent
businessman of Chicago" who is
entitled to the courtesies Of |
officials abroad"
Senator Mundt said for the
record that q patriotic CT flight
on an ATC plane who
objected to seeing civilians wav-
ing White House papers and get
ting VERY Important Persons"
treatment in 1s45, gave the tip
which led to disclosure that Mr..
Bennett and another company Of
fetal Travelled via ATC by au-
thority Of a letter by Gen.
Vaughan. I
Duty kxu O11 GIL OxkICs
It was brought out that the two
passengers declared and paid duty
on 81 kiles Of perfume essence
packed in two suitcases and
valued at $53 3,405.
The committee then heard about
Mr.. Maragon's trip to Europe in
July. 1s45, which resulted in his
being stopped at customs on his
return trip. Customs records were
given the committee to the effect
that Mr.. Maragon tried to pass OF
q package containing perfume oils
rs four bottles Of champagne for
the White House.
Three days after the incident
at customs, the committee was
told, Gen. Vaughan wrote the
memorandum to Mrs. Shipley.
Suit Filed Against Maragon.
The committee earlier received
In /! evidence a letter from Gen.
Vaughan to Maj. Gen.. Clyde l..
Hyssong, central field commander
fof Europe, In January, l94S. in
which Gen. Vaughan introduced
Mr.. Maragon as my good friend. u
The Vaughan letter was intro
duced In connection with testi-
mony by Mr.. Chadwick that he
has filed suit against Mr.. Maragon
for $4,000 which Mr.. Chadwick
said was entrusted to him in 1948 !