The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-11
ROOT SAYS DAWSON GAVE
HIM COPY PEACE TREATY
Asserts Red Cross Head Had Right to Possess
and Share Document.
Former Secretary of State Volunteer Witness at the
Investigation of Leak Banker Schiff Denies ANY
knowledge Of TreatY-Davson Called to Stand la

1 III
state, appearing today at his own
suggestion before tho senate foreign
| relations committee investigating
how copies of the peace treaty got
into the hands OF persons In New
York, testified that for several weeks
he had had a copy given to him py
| Henry p. Dawson, of the Morgan
banking house.
/. Chairman Lodge at the opening OF
the hearing, read a telegram from
b" Jacob Schiff, saying he knew "ab-
solutely nothing directly or indi-
rectly" regarding the treaty, and
then called Mr.. Root to the witness
chair, explaining that he appeared
voluntarily and had requested to be
! heard.
! "Publication of the desire Of the
committee to learn how copies OF
' the treaty reached this country, said
| Mr. Root. in beginning his state
: ment, lied me to feel 1t was proper,
2 | If not duty, TO me to come here
! and give the committee certain
: knowledge on that subject which /
Y have, Il have q copy of that So
: called treaty, have had 1t for sew
. eral weeks. 1t was sent me by III.
< p. Dawson. chairman OF the Inter.
national Red Cross league. l stand
q upon my right to have it. I assert
$ the entire propriety Of his giving IL
: to me. He had 1t because Of his
$ legitimate interests in the Red Cross,
involved in the treaty.
n Mr.. Root said he understood Mr..
). Dawson had the copy in Paris. in
d connection with Red Cross affairs,
and brought it away with him.
= there being at that time no injunc.
y tion against bringing copies to tho
\ United States"
1 | eff w Av4f
! continued Mr.. Root. parts OF 1t, no
y tably the covenant of the league OF
.s nations had been published" SEN
81 ator Lodge said the copy he had
y seen was shown to him by Mr. Root
T. Document Public Property.
IT Mr.. Root remarked that the Ger
ie man government had made the treaty
- public in detail, adding: 4.
~ 1T thereupon became public prop-
ri erty. There are two parties to the
negotiations. Either party has thS
right to make II public. No longer
e. can any diplomatic secrecy attach.
as The German government having the
e. full right to make public this paper,
~ made 1t public and it is public
II should be inclined to resent any
~. i suggestion from anybody.s Mr. Root
40 added sharply, THAT arm not sliti-
sst tied To Il and To use II as I see M.
IS which propose to do.H
m Referring to the Red Cross work
IN of Mr.. Dawson and his own interest
W in the Red Cross Mr.. Root said
~ "Mr. Davison's possession was no
,oo matter of idle curiosity, but of off,
It. cial duty on the part of the man who
m; is abandoning his great business and
nd giving his great powers to orsaniza-
nd ton and execution OF the great Red
ny Cross activities, and he has con ;
los ferred inestimabIe benefit upon the
~ country with credit to himself"
are are Then | gather" Senator Knox in
terjected, that you do not consider
yourself in possession of stolen
ted goods, obtained by bribery, as has
been charged on the senate hoor2''
Lnd nd Il repel any suggestion" Mr.. Roo
wv NV replied with some show of feeling
ain II feel a sense of strong resentment
M to repel such a suggestion from any,
wo source. Nothing could be more base.
less than any such suggestion.
49, Il don't understand that I'm her,
ana to repel any such charge and resen
me deeply having to repel it" added MI
ana Root.
''r ,,al There was nothing material in th
ch- copy he had not seen in the papers
Mr.. Root added.
20, Sharp Exchanges Passed.
eht' Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska rank
Dps ing democrat of the committee, pointe
ad- out that the inquiry was ordered to loo
oe- into charges by Senators Lodge and 30
7th rah He read the remarks bv The ~,
gun senators In the senate, quoting Mr.. 30
ark rah's statement that interests "pecu
liarly interested had copies. A discus
sion among committee members an
IN several sharp exchanges followed. Sen
~ ator Lodge said Senator Hitchcock ha
charged in the senate that the copy
at (Mr. Lodge had seen was obtained b
bribery and corruption "As a mat
n 70 ter pf fact - said Todpe oh
ori- copy | saw was the one shown me b
rish Mr.. Root"
the the Before Secrecy Was Imposed.
Mr.. Root said he believed secrecy wa
del not imposed until after Mr.. Daviso
! II left Paris.
next n, It Il Judge this paper didn't get int
red Mr.. Davisons hands before the in
fGus tbs junction was made?' asked Senate
tia, Pomerene.
Ton ion Yes" said Mr.. Root. Il think 20
ire will find that the men who left Par
ople With them ''00e''' N''''' p''
Probably 1000 or 5000 men, he adde,
were engaged in drawing the complet
Only Read by Root and Dawson.
When Mr.. Root was excused Henry
1ded Dawson was called.
Mr. Dawson said he brought COP
sons Of the treaty to America, but that
,iots never had been read by any man exceI
at himself and Mr. Root.
'orts After Mr.. Dawson had been question:
- Tor n nalt nOQG ne WAS eACGSSu ahu
tion P. Morgan took the stand Mr., Norge
said he had not seen a copy OF y
y treaty.
J. p. Morgan Never Saw Treaty.
G Mr.. Root testified that he got
from Henry p. Dawson, of the MOI
n gan banking house.
r j. p. Morgan testified he had neN'
n seen a copy of the treaty and so d
Ie Frank A. Nanderlip, retiring pres
If dent of the National City bank.
Mr.. Dawson testified he has SHOW
Il 1t to no one but Mr.. Root.
le During an hours testimony in q
IS witness chair, Mr. Root said ]
thought President Wilson was With
at his constitutional rights il not sem
le ing the treaty to the senate, b
\ thought 1t perfectly legitimate for q
! senate to ask for It after it had be'
published by the German COVER
70 ment He gave it as his opinion IN
i the president was within his righ
. in not consulting the senate mo
"a freely on the negotiations but thoug
~ 1t would have facilitated soluti
- - had that been done.
t. The committee was expected
u. 'n decide whether 1t would compel
~ attendance. Borah was reported
>" he prepared to insist upon Schiff
- ing made. to testify.
- Thomas F Lamont. of the Morg
u interests, and Paul NJ. Warburg, 4
. Continued on Page Tsn.)