SECRET RAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 15

SECRET RAY

AMERICAN PLAN ISOLD TO BRITAIN .) , - _______ further allegation ARMY'S PRIZED DEVICE SENATOR'S REVELATION By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 3, 10,55 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 3 'A forecast of revelations of something still more sensational than the sale of American warplanes of an advanced type to France has been given by Senator G. P. Nye, according to the Washington correspondent of the New York HeraldTrihune. : He says Mr. Nye stated to-night that he had received reports that the Army's most prized possession, an anti-aircraft gun director, had been sold to Britain. Tlie instrument, which was the most closely guarded secret until last summer, when the "deal" was made with Britain, has the power of focusing a radio beam on an approaching aeroplane 'by picking up the faint electrical discharges from its spark plugs, and then automatically training anti-air-craft, batteries on the aircraft long before the eye or ear can sense its approach. Coming to a Head The release of the secret to Britain is understood" to have occurred after the British Ambassador had persuaded President Roosevelt of the urgency of ihe situation abroad. An indication that the foreign policy situation is rapidly coming to a head is also seen in a formal statement issued by the nine Republican members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives. "We, the minority members," says tlie statement, "deplore and protest against the un-neutral actions and secret methods-employed by the President, which -would not have become known to the American people except for the recent accidental injury to a French flying officer when flying in the .United States. Open Statement Urged "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 the facts openly to the American people and to uphold our traditional foreign policy of neutrality, non-inter-ver.tion and. peace. The American people, irrespective of party, are opposed to being committed to any war programme through secret diplomacy." CONTROVERSY RAGING f "PRESIDENT'S CRITICS ATTACKS STILL CONTINUE REASSURANCE WANTED (Received February 3, 10-55 p.m.) NEW YORK. Feb. 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." Mr. Fish accused the President of entering into a quasi-military alliance with France and, with intent, fortifying Guam so it would he an "arrow aimed at the heart and lifeblood of Japan." Economic repercussions of the President's policy were heard at a meeting of Senators from the cotton-growing States, where the possibility was being reviewed of a barter deal with the Germans involving from 500,000 to 2,000,000 bales of cotton. The Senators agreed that the best potential outlet for a portion of the 11,000,000 bales surplus is 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 likely to increase the controversy was revealed to-night, 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 tho Spanish Republicans. Continuous pressure on tho 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 xeassure the people.