◆ SpookStack

at rede hw Tse ag A pea. 4 4 a “* at ~ - 4 to £40 oa Btephontenilds of the Legal epurtment and Press Relations De artment or . tho £ ay, he wos told by them that tho cables which Kent had toded 4°" and docoded at the instructions of Ambassador Kennedy, vere sent botygen Presideat Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, when the latter was still a Govornmont by Richard Fk not the Home Secretary wore aont by the Prime Minister (Winston Ckurchill) behind the back of the then Prime Ministor (Newillo Chamberlain)?" The answer of Hom Seers- tery Morrison on the floor of Parliament was: Na information can prop- erly bo givon cut about confidential documente which were extracted ‘ from the American Embassy." es “os __# War O6bt defaulter vas discussed in this secret correspondence - ap - an fern ASP Ene nt nO eh Bed added: "Wo did not want to try this case, but since his own Goveramnt anc Ambassador insistod, there was nothing else to do.” They also said: . "His mother bas been to sce we and we hope nhe is satisfied, because publicity in this mtter would be most embarrassing to both governments.” On Novesher 11, 1941, about one year after the tris] and sentencing J]. of Kent, &@ revelation of the nature of his offense- was made on the floor the British House of Commons in « queation put to the . eee: N.P., Independent Laborite: "Can~ r whether any of these cable oF messages . his oxtracrdinary disclosure on the floor of the British Houso mse <) of Coumens was almost -- but not quite -- successfully « assed = — in tho American pross. Many editors regarded it as too shocking § * use, One large newspaper referred it to legal counsel and was told mo that it might bo libolous, However, in ono early morning edition of the 3, © Washington, D. C., TIMES-HERALD, cf Novembor 12, 1941, Arthur Sears — =— Benning wrote: ; . ‘ a t. 7” “The understanding bore is that tot only cablegram from Mr. Churchill to Nr. Roosovelt behind Chamberlain"s back, but from Mr. Rocsevelt to Mr. Churchill are invelvod. ‘Fhe White Rouse in response to an inquiry yesterday professed to have no information on the subject. _- - . Me ee . “The ccrrespondence was supposed to have related to British and American policy rogarding the European war. Among the ques-. -.~ tions touched upon are said to bnve been a moro vigorous prose- - _ ution of the var than had been achieved by Mr, Chamberlain, and =. the possibilities of the United States taking an active part in . support of Great Britain. . SO "According to one version, the devioe cf Lend Lease legis-". * :, iation for, circumventing the United States Neutrality Lew and =, = - : | the Johnson Act forbidding extension of credit to Britain as a ~*~ 7 em TE. + Jos Oe t ‘ between tho American Fresident and the British Mevy bead. 2 | &:07> "Disclosure of the text of the cablegram would establish a whether Mr. Churchill favited, cr Mr. Rocsevelt made, any com . -. - ‘mitments of the United States Government.to a pelicy of aiding <= ‘*- Britain that was vot contemplated by existing United States lev. - _. “prem the outbreak of the war the Prestaent had heen unter fire fcr permitting, if not encouraging, William C, Bullitt, =. ao American Ambassader to France, and cther American diplomata to = = 8. - enc France and Poland to get into the war with promises of American support. . "The correspondence botvecn Kr. Churchill and the President -! ‘passod through the American Embassy in Londen. Tyler Kent, : elork in tho Embassy, mide copies of the Churchill and Roosevelt eablegranms and sheved them to Oaptain Archibald Ramsay, & momber of the House of Commons. "The lank of the correspondence acon became Imevn and the respensibility therefore was traced to young Kent. The vengeance ef the British and American Qovernmente fcr this breach cf trust . was swift and certain. - oe ee ee ‘ te eee