AMERICAN OIL INQUIRY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1926, Page 15

AMERICAN OIL INQUIRY

THE EVIDENCE OF DOHENY PATRIOTIC MOTIVES SAFETY AGAINST, INVASION. Bv Telegraph—Press Assn.— Copyrlgbv. Washington, Dee. 9. Doheny gave evidence at the oil in* quiry to-day. He declared that he entered the oil contract lease negotiations to save the. country from being invaded like Belgium. He said, “I became aroused over the prospect, as I still am. and I promised to bid on tbe Pearl Harbour contract to furnish the fleqt with oil. Admiral Robison told me that it would double the fleet’s efficiency. He said that the Pacific Coast would be vulnerable without oil for the fleet, but Jhe fleet could stave off :in attack if it bad adequate oil.” Doheny stated that he was not very keen about the Hawaiian tank project until he had discussed it with Admiral Robison. Doheny added: “Robison finally urged the necessity from the standpoint of national defence. He said that orders bad hen issued for mobilisation on our Asiatic frontiers and told me of war plans which required oil to enable the navy to prevent arty foreign navy reaching our Pacific Coast. He said that our navy could easily be overcome without oil.” Doheny further stated that Admiral Robison said that President Harding called the arms conference because of a crisis on the Pacific Coast. Doheny denied he talked to Fall about a bid for the lease before he lent him the 160,000 dollars.