The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-01-08
LAWSON FAILS
TO GIVES NAMES
IN LEAK PROBE
CONTINUED
FROM PAGE I

I FROM PAGE |
/ l~~~~~~~~->~~s~~> ~~.~-~~~~~~-~,~N~~~
written or telegraphic. with MIR.
liaruch or anybody representing
him regarding this matter. | have
had no telephone talk with MIR.
I Haruch or anybody representing
him have never talked with him
or with anybody representing him,
/ or with anyone else. publicly or pri.
vately. with regard 10 this note.
Apparently the only insinuations
/ made against me are that ! lunched
with or met Mr. Baruch at the Bilt-
more hotel AZ or about the time ~
( the preparation OF the suggestion
that the bclligerents state their
peace terms have never break.
/ tasted, lunched or dlnrd. or taken
any meals with MIR Bauch.
4 have met him only ut intervals
AT bnnquets and large dinners. when
many other persons were present
\ | have never discussed any peace
or other note. either when Il was
I IN prospect or nftcrward. with Mir.
\ Baruch or any other persons en-
/ gagged in the purchase or sale OF SO
\ curities on the stock market.
While this ~ Il complete denial
\ OF the only insinuation which has
been made. / wish TO- 80 further and
say that | have never engaged In
/. Tho stock market sales or purchase.
myself or thru brokers. friends or
agents
Il discussed the PRESIDENT note
with no one flint. because my oath
OF service requires ! make no pri-
vnte use OF official information. and
secondly and specifically because.
as ! have stated. | had not seen the
preAidenta note. and DID not know
II was In preparation or even con.
tcmplated.
AS have already stated. I have
frequently requested the president
TO keep me free from any knowledge
OF impending international moves.
so that might not be embarrassed
by requests for Information from
the press.
Awaits Apology
The insinuations which have
been made. whether conceived IN
political malice or merely thru mis-.
Information. are wholly false and
without even the fiimsleHt basis
Il have not NJ any time since
acting as Mr. Wilson's secretary.
iirst when he vas governor OF New
la
Interested In any stock tranFac
lions ~ any kind or given any In
formation to any other persons
rpon which purchase or sales
might be- made wish 10 make
this statement as sweeping and
complete as | know how. am
waiting for Mr. Woods apology ."
preslden, Wrote Note
Declaring Il am authorized hy
the president TO quote him as fol.
lows" Tumulty read the prcsl.
dents statement.
Cross questioned by Heprcnsenta.
tive Campbell. Tumulty explained
note on HIS own typewriter and
that none OF the executive office
staff had any hand IN IT,
Asked ~ he had been able 10 dis
cover any leak himself. Tumulty
said he had been unable TO get any
definite Information. tho he sug
gested that the very fact that the
ncte passed thru many hands
might explain the idea OF leak.
Il do not believe any OF the news
papermen gave out Secretary Ian
sings information on the note" he
SAID. But you can see newspa-
permAn might tell friend. and It
would not take much for any one
to suspect what that means
Pressed as tn whether he had any
Information pointing 10 any person
in on the leak. Timulty said
Il have not. I might have sus-
picion. built on rumor. but when
regulations are involved. | would
not say anything"
Lansing Tells OF Note
Secretary Of State Lansing was
called and gave history OF the
preparation and publication OF the
note
"A draft was received from the
White House Monday" said Ian
ing. Il called on Frank Polk the
counsellorj and MIR. Woolsey. law
ndviser in my office. to discuss the
form In which IL should 20. MIR
Woolsey took II 10 three confiden
tial stenographers. II was prepar
ed and delivered TO tho Index Bu
reau. An assistant. his most con
fidential man. was selected. and
they locked themselves in a room
about O'Clock that night for 81
phering,
THAT night | discussed with the
president time for its publication
We decided to make II public Wed
nesday morning
Tuesday evening copies were
handed To the chief of our informa
ton bureau. They were sent tc
the public printer. Next morning
we received a galley proof. It was
read by one man named Duncan
and sent back to the printer.
Told Newspaper Men
Il told newspaper men that
morning that I'd have note about
> p. IN. for release the followini
morning. | explained ! was tell
. ing them because ! feared 1t might
come back from some foreign coun
try in garhled form. told then
} IL did not contain movement fol
! peace or offer of mediation.
THAT night ! saw Ambassador
Willard. VINO told me he had beer
advised OF the contents of the note
by the president. We discussed
the ACCESSIBILITY of addressing
Spain on the subject. The mex
day the note was made public"