New-York tribune., 1918-12-05
Senate Opens Fire
On ''Secrecy'' o.
Wilson Peace Plans

W NASHlNGTON. Dec. 4.-The debate
in the Senate to-day on President Will
sons peace principles and the proposed
league Of nations opened with speech
by Senator Frelinghuysen, @f New
Jersey. Republican, advocating reso-
iution he had introduced calling upon
the President to make a public decla-
ration interpreting his peace prin-
ciples
Senator Frelinghuysen said the
Presidents fortoen points were open to
various interpretations, and added.
The President should not on behalf
Of the American public make radical
proposals until he is sure that they
are indorsed by the people"
During the debate. Senator Borah
of Idaho, Republican, introduced a
resolution providing for publication
OF the peace telms az soon as agreed
upon, and for open discussion during
consideration Of the treaty in the
Senate.
People Not Heard From
Senator Walsh said that up to six
weeks ago no Senator had expressed
any criticism of the fourteen points.
which were announced January last,
and consequently "tho people of the
world very rightly assumed that the
views of the President wore indorsed
by this great nation"
Senator Poindexter INTERRUPTED to
say that at the time the President an
nounced his principles criticism was
generally disapproved as an interfer-
cnce with prosecution of the war. so
the American people were not to be
deemed i'll default for withholding their
expressions.
!. CHOSE who were critical" he added
deprecated discussion of peace before
we were able to mobilize our forces to
secure the victory essential to peace"
Senator Knox, of Pennsylvania, Re
publican, said Senator Walsh had over
looked certain developments after tho
PRESIDENT delivered his address of
January 8.
$50 far as the Senate Is estopped
from CRITIC islng the points made by the
President" said Mr.. Knox, "the action
of this body stands adverse to those
or two after the Presidents address
senator Lewis, Of Illinois, introduced
resotutlon proposing Endorsement by
the Senate of President Wilson's prin-
clples. That resolution was considered
IN committee and it developed that it
would cause spirited debate. The reso-
tne'9n ~ N lies day IN the pigeonhole Of
senator Shafroth. of Colorado Demo-
crat, 1ntorvened to argue that President
ilson does not lose any authority by
leaving the United States. He cited q
Missouri Supreme Court decision in
which GOVERNOR who left the states
soil, was held not to huve lost any
powers thereby.
Senator Johnson, Of California, Re-
publican. asked that the President in
terpret his principles for the American
people before interpreting them for the
Allied governments, Ho said there
were Senators who did not indorsee the
fourteen points when delivered and a
month later the President in another
address explained that his previous
terms as laid down by him were only
tentative and were not permanent
lied by the California Senator as
"nebulous, some indescribable and some
not understood" and he said the Presi
dent was leaving the people not know
ing what he meant or what he goes
for"
Lewis Defends Wilson
Senator Lewis, Of Illinois, Demo
crat, declared that appointment of
Senator or the peace delegation would
have been comparable to appointing
members cf tho Supreme Court to sit
IN lower court. The public. Senator
Lewis said. had ben given the impress
SION that the President by failing to
appoint a Senator showed lack of
respect for the body, whereas he was
sure the President had no such inten.
ton
He sugge stcd that if Senator had
been appointed Europe would have
thought prejudiced tribunal had been
sent by the United States. and asked
IF freedom of Senators to oppose the
treaty when presented for ratification
would not have been paralyzed. A SEN
ator on the peace commission, he
AIDED. could not KEEP the Senate in
formed of all preliminary negotiations
and pointed out that on all other
treaties the Senate has only had the
final draft.
81 can speak of my own knowledge" i"
said the Illinois Senator, "that it was
the wish Of the President to have