The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-06
HitchcOck's Resolution Adopted
After Fiery Debate.
Democratic Senator and Lodge
in Dramatic Clash.
DEMAND A COPY Immediately
Pass JOhnSOn's Resolution
Without Roll Call.
Treaty Row Is Causing Embar-
raSSment in Paris.

Washington, June 6.-Investigation
of how copies of the peace treaty with
Germany reached persons in New
York was ordered today by the senate.
After Heated Clash.
Action on the Hitchcock resolution
came after a substitute resolution by
Senator Kellogg, Republican, of Min
nesota had been withdrawn at the re
quest of Senator Lodge. Senator
Hitchcock charged the substitute
would not authorize the investigation
he proposed in his resolution. With
out record vote and after a dramatic
clash between Hitchcock and Lodge.
the senate adopted a resolution by Sen
ator Hitchcock, Democrat, of Nebras-
ka, providing for an inquiry into
charges made on the floor two days
ago by Chairman Lodge and Senator
Borah, of the foregn relations commit
tee.
A moment later the resolution of
Senator Johnson, Republican, of Cali
fornia, requesting the state depart
ment to furnish the senate with
copy of the German peace treaty, was
adopted without a roll call without
further debate and with only a hand
ful of senator's present.
Lodge leaped to his feet white with
anger.
do you deny that I saw it?" he
shouted.
Il insist on my right to investigate
the senator's statement" said Hitch
cock.
Glare at Each Other.
The two advanced to the middle of
aisle. where they glared at each other.
Hitchcock declared Lodge was eager
yesterday for passage of the Hitchcock
resolution, but over night he seems
to have seen a new light, which causes
him now to lose some of his enthusi-
asm for immediate action"
Lodge interrupted to assure Hitch
cock that if he would stop talking the
resolution would quickly be passed.
Il haven't delayed the investiga-
tion. You delayed 1T a whole day
am going to ask Senator Kellogg to
withdraw his substitute so as to sooth
Senator Hitchcock by leaving in the
resolution my name and Senator
Borah's." he said.
Kellogg at once withdrew the sub
stitute and the Hitchcock resolution
was passed.
The foreign relations committee
will begin the investigation at once,
Senator Lodge announced. A sub
committee probably will be appointed
to conduct it. Under the Hitchcock
resolution, the committee is ordered to
learn whether the treaty text is in the
hands of persons in New York, how 1t
got there and what special or peculiar
interest they have in it.
The resolution places squarely upon
Lodge and Borah responsibility for
statements that the text is in this coun-
try and that parties having a peculiar
interest in it. have the copies
The two senators probably will be
among the first witnesses at the in
vesugation, altho both have already
they know.
Treaty Causing Trouble.
Paris, June 6.-Meanwhile, the big
four's continued refusal to publish
the text of the original treaty is re-
sulting in embarrassment to the Amer
lean commissioners, as the result of
charges by Senators Lodge and Bora h
that copies are in possession of certain
private interests in New York. This
embarrassment is increased by the
fact that it is reported copies in Ger
man, French and English are availabI
at news stands in Germany, Switzer-
land. Holland and in other neutral
countries. There is understood to be
strong feeling among some mem
bers OF the commission that the text
should be made Immediately available
to the American people.
The British correspondents in Paris
have begun an investigation as to why
their first dispatches regarding dis
cussion of the necessity of peace
treaty changes by the council of four
were held up for thirteen hours. The
dispatches reached the newspapers
100 late for publication in the current
issues.