OPPOSITION TO ROOSEVELT'S MOVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 147, 22 June 1940, Page 10

OPPOSITION TO ROOSEVELT'S MOVE.

TWO-PARTY CABINET.

Resignation Of Secretary Of War. INVESTIGATION TO BE HELD. United Press .Association.—Copyright. (Received 1.30 p.m.) j WASHINGTON, June 21. Senator Gerald P. Nye (Republican) told the Senate that an investigation by the Military. Affairs Committee may show that Mr. Ilarry AVoodring resigned from the post of Secretary of War when ordered to deliver to.the Allies a United States secret bomb-sight.

Earlier Mr. Frank Carlson (Republican) introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives for a joint Congressional investigation of the- circumstanccs surrounding Mr. Woodring's resignation, stressing reports that Mr. Woodring recently said he would be forced to resign because he opposed selling the Allies arms needed by the United States.

The Senate Military Affairs Committee Las decided to Jiold public hearings into Mr. Stimson-s appointment as War Secretary, on the insistence of Republican members.

Senator Nye indicated that Mr. Woodring would be called before the committee during the Stimson hearings. Mr. Stimson also will be asked to testify.

It is planned to delay the hearing until after the Republican National Convention. There is a likelihood of similar hearings being held into the appointment- of Colonel Knox as Secretary of the Navy.

Colonel Knox, in a statement, said he accepted the secretaryship because "'the President said I can help • him in national defence. It is not a partisan question, and it should have the united support of tho people, regardless of party.

"Navy Knows No Party." "Congress in the past few weeks has acted.j with: substantial unanimity in every defence proposal. The. administration of .the Navy Department is in no sense- political. The' Navy knows no party. This is the tim<\ for tremendous naval expansion. It is vital that its management be wholly non-political. . "The. President has asked me to serve on that basjs, and on that basis I accepted. I firmly believe that this is a time of danger to our country.. Each of us must do whatever we can to meet that danger. As good citizens we must serve in -whatever capacity we arc asked to serve." . " V. •

President Roosevelt iii a statement charged opponents of his "national soliCabinet as-acting from partisan instead.,of ; patriotic motives.

. _He defended 'the nomination of Colonel Knox ..and Mr. Stimson as a' step to solidify the 'United States in the facs of a grave international crisis.

He refused at a Press conference to comment on the assertion that the nomination of two Republicans was indicative that he had given them assurances he would not seek a third term.

Mr. Roosevelt said the same conclusion applies to thoce. opponents who charge that by forming a bi-partisan Cabinet he was forming a war Cabinet and making the Democratic party, a war party.

| A message received yesterday stated that. President Roosevelt had taken action to form; a Coalition Cabinet, submitting to "the Senate nominations of two Republicans, Col6nel .Frank - Knox, as Secretary-of the Navy, and Mr. Henry L. Stimson,- as Secretary of War.

Simultaneously the White House announced that Mr. Harry 11. Woodring, Secretary of War, had resigned, his resignation to become effective on tho Senate's confirmation of his successor's nomination.

It was added that Mr. Wood ring'; letter ,of resignation, was'so personal 'that it was not being published. Mr. Roosevelt's letter accepting Mr. Woodring's resignation stated: "It is Of. course a defensive programme, not aimed at intervention in world affairs which are no concern of the-American hemisphere."

The resignation of Mr.' Charles Edison, Secretary of the Navy, becomes effective on June 24. ZVXr. Edison is Democratio nominee as Governor;'of New Jcrsev.