NEW U.S. MINISTER TO AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23848, 18 January 1943, Page 4

NEW U.S. MINISTER TO AUSTRALIA

INVESTIGATION OF PROTESTS

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15

The Public Relations Committee of the United States Senate, at a private sitting, unanimously ordered a public hearing, beginning next week, on the protests against the President’s nomination of Mr Edward J. Flynn as Minister to Australia and Ambassador in the south-west Pacific.

The chairman, Senator Tom Con r nally, said that the hearing, which would be conducted by the full committee, would probably open on Wednesday. The committee would limit the investigation to charges which could be substantiated by direct testimony, barring second-hand hearsay. Senator Styles Bridges (Republican) has alleged that Mr Flynn was counsel for Serge Rubinstein, an associate of a registered Japanese agent, Ouijfi Kassai. Senator Bridges alleged that the foreman of the Bronx Grand Jury, which had “whitewashed” Mr Flynn in connexion with the paving stones scandal, had soon afterwards been given a Government job in New York City.

Other charges of unfitness made by Senator Bridges include one that Mr Flynn, as Sheriff of Bronx County, appointed the late "Dutch” Schultz, a notorious criminal and murderer, as deputy-sheriff, and that Schultz served for the full tenure of Mr Flynn’s incumbency, even though it was known that he was a criminal and a fugitive from justice in many States. In the full Senate the Democrats number 56 and the Republicans 38, The impression is gaining ground that the voting will be along party lines, which moans that Mr Flynn will receive the Australian post.