New-York tribune., 1919-07-03
Senate Will Not
Hold Any Secret
1reatyHearings
Poll of Republican Mem
bers Shows Any Attempt
at Executive Sessions
Will Be Hotly Opposed
By Carter Field
Neu7 York Tribune
WQs hiMQto1t Bureau


darlington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 2.-Trial bal
looms quietly floated in the Senate by
Administration members to establish
whether executive sessions during the
discussion of the peace treaty would be
countenanced were punctured to-day
by Republican leaders.
Senator Borah revealed that dozen
RepuliieSxss Senator's had been quss-
toned as to whether secret sessions
would meet with their approval. He
quoted Senator Lodge, with whom
these Senators conferred, as having
said executive session would be i'm
possible. The fullest, freest and most
open discussion of the treaty must
prevail, the Republicans contend
Senator Hitchcock's suggestion that
the President might deem it expedient
to address the Senate in executive ses-
sion on the more delicate phases of
the Paris negotiations, including the
Shantung settlement, was received with
surprise by Republican leaders,
mo part of the discussion of this
treaty can be bottled up" Senator Ro-
rah said. "If executive sessions are
held the opponents of the league of
nations will be compelled to go to the
country immediately"
Committee Sessions Secret
The sessions Of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, when it considers the
treaty and the league covenant, how
ever, will all be executive. There is
the possibility that President Wilson
will be invited before the committee to
give members Of the Senate any infor-
nation he feels he cannot impart in
public. There is no precedent for sum-
moning the President of the Unitex
States before a Congressional commit
tee, but it was pointed out to-day no
other President has ever personally
negotiated peace treaty on behalf of
the United States.
Opponents of the league of nations
scid they considered the present situa-
tiIn Splendid" but they acknowledge
that they still lacked definite and
unified plan of attack. Senator Borah' 8
made concession to-day when he said
ne would support any plan of "reserva-
lions" that seemed to him to eliminate
TIE dangerous clauses of the league of
nations covenant.
Opposes Article X
"Mr. Root says he can draw such
reservations" Senator Boraa said
"None Of the schemes that have come
to my attention so far meet the re-
quirements. ! should want the reser-
vations ample to protect the right OF
the United States to withdraw from
the league, safeguard the Monroe Doc.
trine, reserve domestic questions for
consideration by this government alone
and to nullify Articles x and XII"
Senator Borah regards Article XI JUS
as dangerous as the preceding article
He believes fifty-one of the Senate
membership of ninety-six would refuse
to ratify the treaty without reserya-
tions to the two articles.
Premier Clemenceau's letter o1
transmittal, accompanying the copy o1
the peace treaty sent to Premier Pade-
rewski, in which the French leade,
stated that there rests upon the Allied
and associated powers IAN obligation
which they cannot evade, to secure in
the most permanent and solemn form
guarantees for certain essential right.
which will afford the inhabitants (ot
Poland) the necessary rights, what
ever changes may take place in the in
ternal constitution of the Polish state,
was held up by opponents of the league
as evidence that the United States un.
der the league would be unable ts
avoid being drawn into the intefna
disputes of European nations.
Cites Clemenceau Statement
premier Ciemenceau-s amazingly
frank declaration with respect to Pc
land furnishes additional and indis
putable evidence that under Articl
XII of the covenant the United States
would be called upon to take a hand il
Internal affairs as we'll as to becom,
o party to external questions unde
Article X" said Senator Borah. 9TH,
internal affairs of great states prob
ably will not be interfered with b,
the league. 1t will be the small ant
the weak states with which the leagu,
will meddle."
When President Wilson goes to tn
country on the league Of nations hi
opponents in the Senate will deman,
immediate action on Dill for nation
vida referendum on the league
II ntiasssd on page four