HON W. BRIDGEMAN EXPOSES SHEARER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18890, 15 October 1929, Page 8

HON W. BRIDGEMAN EXPOSES SHEARER.

U.S. PROPAGANDIST IS CENTRE OF ATTACK.

, (United Press Assn.—By Electric Tel egraph—Copyright.) (Received October 15, 11.30 a .in.) LONDON, October The Hon W. C. Bridgeman, former First Lord of the Admiralty, has written an important letter to “The Times”

in connection with Shearer’s Geneva activities, describing “gross misrepresentation of our objects with the obvious intention of stirring up ill-feeling against England.” He recalls an incident in which his statement that Britain did not intend to dispute the United States’s claim for parity, was deliberately misrepresented. Mr Bridgeman then became aware of Shearer’s activities. Shearer, he discovered, had obtainecs a Press ticket to enter the meetings and was said to be distributing widely violent attacks on the British policy, good faith and monstrous mis-statements concerning the actual proposals. Mr Bridgeman expressed surprise that Shearer was given a Press ticket, but could do nothing beyond refusing to admit him to further Press conferences. “I am thankful that Mr Hoover has taken action. I only wish that it had been possible before the close of the Geneva 1927 Conference. It would then have been clear, as now, that Britain had no intention of building in competition with the United States."“Times” Cables. William Shearer was paid by bag United States shipbuilding firms as a propagandist and endeavoured to prevent naval disarmament. His activities at the Geneva Conference in 1927 are the subject of a Government inquiry instituted by Mr Hoover.