The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-06-11
HAD COPY 2 WEEKS
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have the treaty and use it as see fit,
as l propose to do.
1.-The publication of reports that this
committee would inquire into posses
sion of persons here of copies. of the
draft of the treaty with Germany led
me to feel it was proper, il not my
duty, for me to come here and give
the committee certain knowledge on
the subject which 1 have" Root said.
Il have copy of the so-called
treaty." Root declared dramatically.
Il have had it several weeks. 1t was
sent me by Henry P. Dawson, chair
man of the war council of the Amer
lean Red Cross. He sent 1t to me a
couple of weeks ago.
Il stand upon my right to have it.
1 deny that anybody can properly
question that right. 1 assert the en-
tire propriety of my having it
Mr.. Dawson had it in Paris while
there in consultation regarding the re-
lation of the Red Cross to those af-
fairs of international adjustment and
he brought it away with him.
Defends Dawson.
There was no injunction against
persons having possession of the docu-
ment bringing it to the United States
L understand there has been such an
Injunction or prohibition issued since
Mr.. Dawson left Paris. But there was
none at the time he came away from
Paris against bringing away any
document he rightfully had.
1T was not a secret document
Root added
treaty draft because of the relation of
the Red Cross to the treaty provisions
Senator Knox asked Root regarding
Senator Hitchcock's charge on the SEN
ate floor that the treaty was stolen
property"
DO you desire to be understood as
saying that you did not have possess
sion of stolen property as was charged
on the floor of the senator" Knox
asked
Denies "StoIen Property"
81 repel any such suggestion" Root
Indignantly replied. Il feel a sense of
strong resentment at being required to
repel any such suggestion
Senator Williams asked Root If he
found differences between the treaty
and the summary.
THE only parts I compared were
the middle sections dealing with Ger
many" Root explained. az found
nothing there that had not been cog
infant of before"
Heckle Hitchcock.
Republican committee members
heckled Hitchcock repeatedly about
his charge that if Lodge held the
treaty in his hands in New York he
held stolen goods. probably obtained
by bribery.
Hitchcock referred to "Borah's
charges" but Senator Lodge sharply
reminded him that your statement
about robbery and bribery was made
in connection with the treaty 1 saw.
The copy saw was shown me by Mr..
Root"
Senator Borah asked Root whether
he knew where Dawson got his copy.
Root said he did not
do you think there is anything
wrong or scandalous about a banker
taking a copy of the treaty If he saw
one?" asked Senator Brandegee.
81 can't see anything wrong in. it,
replied Root "Of course, a banker
has no more right than anyone else
to steal a paper. but when that paper
becomes public the banker has no less
right to it than anyone else"
Because Change Likely.
Root suggested that the withhold-
ing of the treaty draft was mot Der
cause of an injunction of secrecy, but
on account of the unwillingness to disA
tribute paper likely to be changed
Root said he believed most of the
experts, commissioners and employees
OF the American mission who left
Paris before the middle of May
brought back copies of the treaty. He
said probably two or three hundred
of the 1.4OO employees and members
of the American mission in Paris have
copies.
Resenting suspicious" which he
said had been directed at American
financiers because of an interest in
the treaty, Root said:
Vastly important financial ques-
tons are involved in the treaty. Mar
kets for American productions are in
volved. Nobody but a lunatic would
try to make such a treaty without the
aid of financial experts
You may find you can infer some