U S. SECRET RAY SOLD TO BRITAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 9

U S. SECRET RAY SOLD TO BRITAIN.

FIRE ON 'PLANES.

Anti-Aircraft Battery

Director.

RADIO BEAM ON SPARK PLUGS. United Press Association.'—Copyright. NEW YORK, February 3. A forecast of revelations of something still more sensational than the | sale of American warplanes of an advanced type to Prance has been !given by Senator G-. P. Nye, accordling to the Washington correspondent of the New York "Herald-Tribune."

He says Mr. Nye stated to-night that lie had received reports, that the Army's most prized possession, an anti-aircraft gun director, had. been sold to Britain.

The instrument, which was the most closely guarded'' • secret until last summer, when the "deal" was made with Britain, has the power or focusing a radio beam on an approaching aeroplane by picking up the faint electrical discharges from its spark pings, and then automatically training anti-aircraft batteries on the aircraft long before the eye or ear can sense its approach.

\r The-release of the secret to Britain lis understood to have occurred after the British Ambassador had persuaded | President Roosevelt of- the urgency of the situation abroad.

I An indication that the foreign policy 1 situation, is rapidly coming to a head is also seen in a formal stateriient issued by the nine Republican members of the Foreign Affairs Committee «of the House. of Representatives. 1

"We, the minority members/' says the statement, "deplore . and protest against the un-neutral actions and secret methods employed by the President, which.* would not, liave become known to tlie American people except for the recent accidental injury to a French flying officer when flying iii the United States. " v.-.

"We have no objection to the sale of aeroplanes to any nation with which, we have diplomatic relations, but we insist that such secret and un-neutral acts entangle us in foreign conflicts and endanger the peace of America. .

"We'urge the President to present all tlie facts openly to the American people and to uphold our traditional I foreign policy of neutrality, non-inter-verition and x )eacc * -^ le American people, irrespective of party, are opposed to being committed to any war programme through secret diplomacy." FIERCE ATTACK. Mr. Roosevelt's " Best Hater" .Accuses President. QUASI-MILITARY ALLIANCE. (Received 1.30 p.m.) • . NEW - YORK, February 3. . While' the Congressional barrage against Mr. ' Roosevelt is being - continued by both parties, one of - the most interesting attacks was made by Mr. Hamilton .Fish, who is known, as Mr. Roosevelt's "best hater.'V ". , t ; Mr. Fisli accused - the President. of. entering into a quasi-militar}' ulliarice, with France and> with r intent, fortify- j ing Guam so it would be an "arrow! aimed at*the heart and lifeblood of| Japan/' • i

Economic repercussions of the President's policy were heard at a meeting of Senators from the cotton-growing States, where tlie possibility was being reviewed of a barter deal with the Germans involving from 500.000 to 2,000.000 bales of cotton. Tlie Senators agreed that the best potential outlet for a portion of the 11,000,000 bales surplus iis with Germany, Japan and Italy, the very countries to which, it is believed, the* President intends to apply economic pressure in the event of war. Another item y likely to increase the controversy was- revealed to-niglit,, in an acknowledgment by the Government that it is being sued "by General Franco's Government for the recovery of. 10,000,000 dollars' worth of silver, purchased by the United States from the Spanish Republicans. Continuous pressure on the President concerning ; his '.foreign policy is expected to induce him to make one of his so-called fireside chats in the near future, so as to clarify the position and reassure the people. A message from Home says the United States 32mbassy has protested against the attacks on Mr. Roosevelt in the Press campaign. It pointed out that the recent comments Avere personally insulting. Some of the papers to-day; implied that the President's physical (.••abilities caused mental abberations.