HOW PUBLIC OPINION IS MADE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 September 1929, Page 3

HOW PUBLIC OPINION IS MADE

AN AMERICAN SENSATION.

LID IS LIFTED OFF CAULDRON OF HATE

ACTION FOR COMMISSION.

Received Sunday, 7 p.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 6,

A sensation was caused by President Hoover’s statement to-day of the exist* once of paid propaganda against the present naval limitations activity.

A suit was recently hied by a well-' known civilian naval expert against three of the largest American shipbuilding concerns, for services as propagadist in supporting increased armaments.

The president said: “Part of this propaganda has been directed to create international distrust and hatred. It is obviously against public interests for those who have financial interests in, or may engage in contracts for the construction of naval vessels, secretly to attempt to influence public opinion or public officials by propaganda in oivimr of larger armaments and attempt to defeat the efforts of governments in the world limitation of sueff armaments, or to employ persons for such a purpose.’’ The statement added: “The Attor-ney-General has been asked to consider what action can bo taken and reaffirms the president’s determination that our present international negotiations shall not lie interfered with.”

The expansion of the scope of tihe proposed inquiry next Tuesday by tlie Be nut e naval committee into the activities of William Seh oarer, the Big Navy advocate, include officers of the American Brown-Boveri Electric Corporation, the Bethleham Shipbuilding Corporation, the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, which Schemer chums he represented at the 1927 Geneva naval limitations conference, was urged to-day by Senator Borah.

President Hoover announced that ho had ordered the vUorney-General, Mr Mitchell, to investigate the activities of Bchearer, who test i tied in a Xeiv York law suit against the above three companies for a com mission of more than hUU,OOO dollars tor his efforts at Geneva to discourage naval disarmaments, while in the secret employ of tint corporations named, each of which is now building cruisers for the United Suites, to state their side of. the ease in reply'to the allegations of Sehearer during ami before t hi.* Geneva confer cnee.

“It is due Vo the public, duo to the Government and due to the corporations themselves,' 1 declared President Hoover.

Responsible officials of the Corporations have issued a statement, denying Seh oa ror's e barges.