Evening journal., 1919-06-09
SENATE GETS COPY
OF GERMAN treaty
Is Put in Record Despite
Request Of President
for Secrecy
10 COPIES With
STATE DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON, Juno o. - Omitted
Press. Soon after the Senate met to-
day to consider the German peace
treaty, Senator Borah put into the REQ
ord a copy OF the treaty text which he
said had been handed to him by Frazer
Hunt a Chicago newspaper man.
Democrats demanded q roll call on
the question OF putting the treaty IN
the record The vote was az 20 81 In
favor OF publication.
Hitchcock said DO believed the COM
mlttee should respect the desire OF
President Wilson 10 hold the treaty as
confidential for the present ana agree
not TO make II public In case a copy
Is obtained in the committee inyestisa-
tion. Senator Borsh objected TO the
proposal.
Senator Moses SAID he objected 10
making any copy public except one
from President Wilson himself. The
committee then heard Senator Lodge
Lodge declined TO give the committee
the names OF persons OF New York who
showed him copies he said that the
persons with whom he had been In
ANNAA WIZ MNN AllINNhlfIN hIlu HHu OILY
"a general interest in the treaty.
Il have heard nothing OF copies being
in the hands OF financial interests. :"
said Lodge. but was told there were
four copies In New York.
u knew directly Of only two. do
not know where the copies were OBJ
tained nor how. do not feel II would
be right 10 give the committee the
names Of my informants. Il would be
a breach Of confidence"
Acting Secretary of State Folk was
the next witness.
Il got a copy OF the treaty by
courier on May 49," said Polk. Il got
ten later and after that one or two more.
They are all in two safes in the de-
partment and no one has seen them eX-
cept by assistant and myself. They
have not been out OF the once. They
were sealed before being put into the
safes.
Were your orders not 70 make them
public?' asked Brandegee
II was instructed by the peace con
ference TO hold them pending further
instructions"
"Who signed those ordsrs7"
They were signed by the American
mission"
"of course they were issued by the
Presidents Instructions ?" said Brande-
gee.
At Brandegees request. Polk prom
ised TO compare the last copies he re-
ceiNed with the first ones 20 see wheth-
er any changes were made. Polk said
he has not read the copies hence doesn't
know whether there are any differences.
senator Knox inquired In detail con
corning the handling OF copies in Polk's
once. Polk said the seals were broken
on the pouches containing the treaties
either by his assistant or in the depart
ments mail room but on the psrtiou-
lar packages in which the treaties were
wrapped, the seals had not been broken.
except IN the case OF the FIRST copy re-
ceived May 10.
There was not a chance" Polk said.
mat one Of his copies had been shown
anyone outside.
Have YOU investigated 10 find out
whether there are any copies in New
York;" asked Senator McCumber.
NO, have heard the rumors but
have not traced g." ne replied.
senator Johnson. Cal. tried 10 ssfab-
lsh why when A synopsis OF the
treaty AZ given out. the text was with
held, but Polk said he could give no
information except that an agreement
with France and England prevented
publication OF the text. Polk also was
unable TO say whether the synopsis
represented a true SUMMARY Of the
treaty terms He said ne would com
pare them and inform the committee.
Was the reason for Withholding the
text that its publication might pro-
woke discussion" asked Johnson.
Not so far as the United states was
concerned" said Polk. "but for discus
sion in the Paris press. yes"
Senator Lodge asked Polk whether
an order was issued in Paris that no
more copies are TO be sent 10 this
country. Polk said so far as he knows
no such order was issued.
ut is vitally important that we
know about that" said Knox. I'VE
may be shooting in the dark. thinking
the league covenant Is final whereas u
is open 10 change"
Polk said ne did not know but believ-
ed the league committee in Paris has
finished its work. Whether IL has
been discharged he could not say. He
said he would compare the text. as
put into the Congressional Record by
Senator Pittmsn recently with that
contained in his official copies Of the
treaties and tell the committee whether
there have been any changes In the
amended league covenant. Member
were earer for This information and
sought 10 impress on Polk its import
ance in view Of the Senate discussion.
"of course" said Polk" the league
covenant is in my opinion as much sub
ieot 10 modification as any other arti-
Gle in the treaty"
The committee adjourned 10 meet at
the call OF Senator Lodge. on sugges-
ton OF Senator Hitchcock IL was de-
cided TO publish the hearings in
phamplet form from time to time so
H..Ha