New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-15
Saws Documents Are Con
fdcntial, Even If Be
fore Senate.
COM MITTEE ACTION
DENIED BY STONE
Foreign Relations Chairman De-
Clares Kaiscr'S Plans Were
Known 10 All.

Washington. Feb. H. The rcvc!a-
tions OF Germany designs upon the
republics Of the Western Hemisphere
ere TO be tho subject Of extensive dis
cussion in the executive sessions Of the
/ Senate.
Il is probable that whom tho matter
IS taken up tho Senate will call upon
the President 10 furnish copies OF all
/ the reports and other documents bear
ing upon the activities of Germany in
seeking TO obtain footholds in Hsyti,
( Nicaragua, Colombia, Paraguay. Chill
and the Danish West Indies.
Secretary Of State Lansing was asked
to-day if he had supplied the Senate
Committee Of Foreign Relations with
any OF the documents disclosing the
German plans 70 transgress the Monroe
Doctrine.
"If had sent them any documents
they would be confidential" he enig-
maticallv replied. Several Senator'S ad-
mittcd to-day that tho effort Of Ger
many 10 obtain the interoceanic canal
right Of way and naval bases in Mica
ragua have been discussed already in
/ the Foreign Relations Committee. At
/ one OF the hearings on the Nicaragua
treaty. now pending in the Senate, the
committee questioned number Of W.T.
Iesses from Managua at great length
/ concerning the German negotiations.
These witnesses stated that Germany
/ offered 100000 for the concessions,
/ three times as much a. the United
| States will pay If the pending treaty is
ratified. and that the deal would have
gone through had it not been frus-
trated by the last revolution.
Leases To BE Investigated
The forthcoming discussion OF the
German designs in the executive scs-
sions Of the Senate with relate 20 the
question that has been raised concern
ing the leases held b. German interests
a. ST. Thomas. in the Danish West In
dies. II has been suggested that pos
s.bly some of these leases are IN con-
travention of the Lodge resolution
v HIGH was passed by the Senate 10 dis
courage such enterprises in the West
en- Hemisphere by the nationals Of
foreign powers. Il was in this way
that the United States prevented the
japanese from obtaining control Of ISL
ands in the Pacific close 10 the Panama
Canal.
The theory Of the Lodge resolutions
Is that the United States Will view As
unfriendly the granting OF concessions
that might open the way 20 an infringe
ment Of the Monroe Doctrine.
g Dol q - nj :
Committee denied reports that there
was any documentary evidence in pos
session of the committee on the sub
ject.
Stone Denies German Plots.
"Of course we have heard report,
that Germany sought 10 obtain the
Nicaraguan canal route" said Senator
stone. chairman of tho committee.
whether she offered 100000 or ST.
100000 or s20.000,000 I DO not know.
We have no means OF knowing. THAI
Germany wss actusted by the same
motives in seeking this canal route
that France had IN the orig nal Panama
enterprise is apparent g. every one.
Personally. think il would be 20 the
great political disadvantage Of the
United States for any European gov
Crument TO have control Of a canal
route across the Par-American 18TH
mus"
Champions Of the pending Near
aguan treaty are said TO have cited
Germany's desires in urging its rati'i-
cation. Nicaragua having agreed 10 &C
ocpt the S3.O0O.O0O offered by the
United states for tho canal option and
nsval base in Fonscca Bay
Senator Stone said late to-day that
/ he had agreed TO defer asking for a
vote on the treaty until next Thursday
several Democratic Senator'S having no
titled him that they could not be pres
cnt until that time