New-York tribune., 1919-07-10
President Ready to Ex-
plain Details of Negoti-
ations and Why U. S.
Should Join the League
Anxious to Tell
All to Committee
Bitter Fight Over Pact
Likely To Be Public;
Speaking Tour Soon

w NAOH14NEION, July S--T resident
Wilson will present the peace treaty
and the league of nations covenant to
the Senate tomorrow.
In presenting the document the
President will deliver lengthy ad-
dress in which he is expected to out
line the details of the negotiations re-
Gently concluded in Paris and tell why
he feels that the United States should
indorse the league Of nations covenant
His address promises to mark the open
ing of one of the bitterest fights ever
waged in the Senate over ratification
Of treaty.
The President has not completed
plans for his speech making tour of
the country, but he is expected to start
about the middle of next week.
1t was announced at the White House
to-day that the President would place
himself unreservedly at the disposal Of
the Senate in it's consideration of the
anxious and eager" to appear before
any committee of the Senate or Of the
House, or both, in open or executive
session to answer any questions that
members might desire to ask with re-
gard to the treaty and the league COW
enant
May Have to Ask to Appear
While members of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee declined to
predict whether the President would
be invited before the committee, there
was general feeling that should he
make known directly a desire to ap-
pear he would be given the opportunity.
The usual procedure would be for the
committee to ask for the diplomatic
correspondence leading up to the
treaty, and since most of the Ver-
sailles negotiations were conducted
orally, some Senators believe the al
ternative course will be to question the
principal delegates.
Opposing this view, However, is the
feeling of some committee members
that it would be too wide a departure
from precedent to invite President
before any committee of Congress. 1t
has been pointed out that the Chief
Executive constitutes in himself a
coordinate branch of the government,
and, as such, never has dealt directly
with such a subordinate body as a
Senate committee.
Sessions Probably Open
Should the President go before the
committee there are indications that
the sessions will be open. Some men,
bers are known to be determinedly
opposed to any secrecy in Senate con-
sideration of the treaty, and in this
stand they expect the coope Grafton of
the President and his supporters on
the committee. The effect may be
to throw into the open the entire COM
mittec consideration Of the treaty, as
we'll as the debate in the Senate cham
ber. 1t is considered more than likely,
however, that at least some of the
committee discussions will be in ex-
ecutive session.
A vigorous questioning undoubtedly
will await the President should he ap-
pear before the committee Among
the members are some of the most bit
ter critics Of the league of nations
and of the Presidents conduct of the
Versailles egotiations, Including Chair
man Lodge and Senators Borah, of
Idaho; Johnson, of California, and Fall,
of New Mexico, all Republicans.
Work to Begin Monday
There is little likelihood that the
committee will begin work on the
treaty before Monday, although it vii,
receive the document as soon as it is
submitted by the President There
are many maps attached, and it is not
expected that copies for the committee
members can be made at the Govern
ment Printing Office before the end of
the week. 1t is improbable that any
witnesses will be called until the whole
treaty has been gone over by the COM
mittee members, task which may re-
quire many days.
The plan tonight was fonthe Senate,
az soon as the President has finished
speaking tomorrow, to order the
treaty printed in "Thc Congress
Continued on merit UUOC