Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-09-13
CONFIDENTIAL MAN
TO PEACE MISSION
TEST|F|ES FREELY
Bullitt Declares Secretary
of State Is Against
League Covenant.
ATTRIBUTES STRONG TALK
TO HIGH CABINET OFFICER
Newspaper Man, Attached to
American Commission, Gives
Sensational Testimony.
NSING WILL NOT TALK
Diplomat, on Fishing Trip, Refuses
Statement on Evidence Before
Senate Committee.
ATTRIBUTES STRONG TALK
TO HIGH CABINET OFFICER
LANsIN WILL NOT TALK
Diplomat, on Fishing Trip, Refuses
Statement on Evidence Before
Senate Committee.

WASHINGTON Sept. 12.-The asser-
ton that Secretary Lansing opposed
ratification of the peace treaty and
league of nations covenant. although
he was n member OF the American
peace commission that drafted IT. was
made today before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee by William ..
Bullitt, of Philadelphia. formerly en-
ployed by the mission at Paris In a
! confidential capacity.
The testimony. purporting to give
Mr. Lansng's private opinion expressed
in conversation with the witness the
day the latter resigned from the mis-
sion because he was not in sympathy
with the treaty or the league. popped
out suddenly and sensationaily.
Bullitt had Just expressed reluctance
at 1.-The idea Of revealing any part OF =
private conversation with the peace
commissioners. and members of the
committed quito agreed Satlth1thls view
Expressed Vigorous OpInions.
Near tho close OF a three hour hear
,hng. however, Chairman Lodge asked
now now the treaty and Its covenant was
Henry White and General Bliss. ali
members Of the American commission.
said. adding. in reply to an inquiry by
the chairman. that these opinions were
not enthusiastic.
conversation. dictated. he said. whiis
II was fresh In his mind. Bullitt quoted
the, the sefretasy Mr 1.ns on many points. saying
OF Shantung to Japan: that he consid-
eLLed the league thoroughly bad; that
tne tne,i large nations would pay little at.
the world had been arranged accord.
Ing to the desires OF the big nations
at the peace conference
Inc most sensational
triouted by the witness to the Secrc-
anG sary or OF state was that il the Senate
me treaty meant it would be defeaTeh'
senator Knox really would understand
t" the witness vt Mr; sadsing AN ne said according
purely political" oeeou'e
No Democratic Senator'S pr...,,
in mere mere, were no Democratic Senators
given. nor &c whsn o,sn this testimony was
nHas neaarlns. and Nobody took un me me
Wse'S Whss news rer the A,mesiesn commsson,eare. ,ae
spread about the canitniiss cdtf,Its testimony
SlVely discussed and Senators ,eAteh-
WE When anSious to hear from Mr.. Lansing sh9
reach him at the State Densr DnueaWored rtin to
pateh Is Istar was ,. out Of town and dissy
said he iSter dec,insd from Watertown. \. y,
ment and had gone fishinr hT9 any state
pu!lltt' formerly a newsna nor
Wiison.s @ "tht 10 Paris with Preside5t
NE .ne mission. He was summary NEG nee, TO
NY petore the treaty was reported o;s,
n, ina ,ne committee. but was in the
me me notice did not reach him ,F,p, ,i,,, ana
re" Gays ago. This was exni.ins q
hearins s'inan man Lodge TO show why the
@' 'hs apparently had been reonsnnS
Gives "ConhdentIaI- Inforu,,,o.
wealth OF informatio,
as as more or less confdential va a;s niusn
81 srn witness during his threeehour
he was Son, IN h.! Fenruary sy last. he said.
80, Srdn 10 bring back from the So.
a.et leaders statement showinp ~.
aI"a TO noacs csrms ms; on which they would agree
other things OF good order: es,a hiiHhs
shed by the Bolshevists. Lenin"'s Sn-
mis- mise 'or IN peace. @ his readiness to compro-
@ @IIisc IN order to obtain it, and his
promise that all foreign debts Of the
novtet n government would be paid
herars herer vas as made public. Bullitt said.
t.ioSn George wanted it printed he
said. yet later the Premier denied ali
6nno'WledGe n OF it when questioned in
BIilitt described himself as a clear
~; ,nt nouse OF information for the dele
Eoinna, Sni11m, ana and, worked generally under
committee the Presidents original
league proposal, written on the Pre.i
gents in;; own typewriter and bearing an
the latter's high -egard for the Wit
ness.
Quotes Colonel House Freely.
Suliitt quoted Colonel House freely.
and when asked why he had resigned
produced from a great stack OF papers
letter he had written the President
expressing His lack OF saoisfection
with the way the peace negotiations
were proceeding, and particularly
FoicinS disapproval O! the league on
nations. About the only part OF the \
PRESIDENTS league proposals incorpor-
ated In the covenant. he said was tho
widely-de ebated Article X. which re.
NAMED intact. Once in Paris Builttt
had an engagement with the President
which he said, the President called OF,
because Pee use, OF headache. He laid before
President why he had quit the mission
but the committee did not question him
about IT..
Along viii. his report OF condition.
In Russia. Bull!tt gave the COMMITTEES
the Soviet peace proposal, which never
went TO the peace conference, and
which was dropped, he testified Sc-