REVELATIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1925, Page 2

REVELATIONS

ME I NITER STATES PREPARATIONS. , Australia A N.Z. Cable Association.] NEW YORK. July 1. Tin- “New York Times" published a lengthy statement by Mr Dolieney concerning the indictment on the charges of fraud oi connect ion with the oil leases, and giving expected testimony for the trial in October. Summarised

it states; Firstly, that there would never have been the Klk Hills. California, lease validation, nor would the pan-American Petroleum Transport Coy have undertaken the construction of Pearl Marhour. Honolulu Naval oil base, were it not that Admiral John Robinson, Chief of the Naval Bureau of Engineering convinced Dohenev personally that, a great war in the Pacific threatened United States in 1921, and that the proposed Hawaiian oil base was one link in the national defensive chain, oil the strength of which depended the victory or defeat of United States. Secondly, that the whole naval lease policy of the Harding administration was not originated by the Secretary of the Interior. Air Fall, but by higher officers of the Navy who were convinced a great war in the Pacific threatened United States, as the result of confidential reports submitted by Admiral Cleaves commanding the forces in As. * atic waters in 1922. Thirdly, the Secreiarv for Navy Air Donhv and Air Nothall suggested the transfer of authority over the oil re serves from the Navy to the Interior Department, which transfer was discussed at a full Cabinet meeting, which the then A'ice-l’esident, Air Coolidge attended. Fourthly. Doheuey’s own course was wholly determined by a Conference with Admiral Robinson, who pictured the imminent dreadful invasion United States, unless the Honolulu base were immediately constructed, lie asked Dohenev. as a citizen to come to the country's aid in the hour of peril. Fifthly, the real reason for calling the Washington Conference for the limitation of armament was to avoid this Pacific crisis by diplomacy, if possible and the secrecy marking the oil negotiations was due solely to a fear that the conference, then in session, might be wrecked if the Powers learned that while United States was working for pence, it was aNo preparing for war.