HEARINGS

BEFORE A

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS UNITED STATES SENATE

SEVENTY-FIRST CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

PURSUANT TO

S. Res. 114

A RESOLUTION TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGED ACTIVITIES OF WILLIAM B. SHEARER IN BEHALF OF CERTAIN SHIPBUILDING COMPANIES AT THE GENEVA NAVAL CONFERENCE AND AT MEETINGS OF THE PREPARATORY COMMISSION

SEPTEMBER 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, OCTOBER 1, 1929, AND JANUARY 11, 1930

116228

Printed for the use of the Committee on Naval Affairs

ALLEGED ACTIVITIES AT THE GENEVA CONFERENCE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1929

UNITED STATES SENATE,

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS,

Washington, D. C.

The subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 10.30 o'clock a. m., in the Capitol, Senator Samuel M. Shortridge presiding.

Present: Senators Shortridge (chairman), Allen, and Robinson of Arkansas.

Senator SHORTRIDGE. This committee has met, and is in session, to discharge the duty imposed on it by Senate Resolution 114, which will be printed in the record at this point.

The resolution referred to is as follows:

Senate Resolution 114

Whereas it appears from the newspaper reports that William B. Shearer has brought suit against certain shipbuilding corporations, or companies, alleging services rendered to said companies at the Geneva naval conference and in matters connected therewith; and

Whereas some of said companies have been seeking, or have secured, contracts with the Government of the United States for building certain vessels, or ships, to be used by the American Navy: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs, or any subcommittee thereof, be, and is hereby, authorized to make full investigation of the alleged activities at the Geneva naval conference and at the meetings of the preparatory commission, and in all matters in connection therewith, of the said Shearer and of the said shipbuilding companies; and whether the said Shearer represented said companies; and if he did represent them, the object and purposes of the said shipbuilding corporations in employing him as their agent or representative. And said committee, or any subcommittee, is hereby authorized to send for persons, books, and papers, to administer oaths, and to employ a stenographer, at a cost not exceeding 25 cents per hundred words, to report such hearings as may be had in connection with any subject which may be before said committee, the expenses thereof which shall not exceed $10,000, to be paid out of the contingent fund of the Senate; and that the committee, or any subcommittee thereof, may sit during the sessions or recesses of the Senate.

Senator SHORTRIDGE. In order that witnesses may see the relevancy and materiality of the evidence which may be sought by questions to be propounded, I call attention to the resolution, the material part of which for the moment reads:

Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs, or any subcommittee thereof, be, and is hereby, authorized to make full investigation of the alleged activities at the Geneva naval conference and at the meetings of the preparatory commission, and in all matters in connection therewith, of the said Shearer and of the said shipbuilding companies; and whether the said Shearer represented said companies; and if he did represent them, the object and purposes of the said shipbuilding corporation in employing him as their agent or representative.

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