The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-06-14
ROOT ADMITS He
HAD PACT COPY
Former Senator Believed to Have
Shown Text to Lodge in
New York.
HAD IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
Contends He Had Perfect Right to the
ManuscriptA-Promnent Finan-
ciers Among the Witnesses
Before the Committee.

S~io FthiShS eiS ss's'SSSNS
Before the Committee.
Washington, Jlfne 12.-The peace
treaty scandal fizzled out in the re-
sumption by the senate foreign rela
tions committee of the investigation
as TO how copy of the treaty denied
to the senate, reached the hands of
private persons in New York city.
Elihu Root, former secretary of
state, who appeared voluntarily as the
first witness, frankly told the commit
tee that he was given a copy of the
treaty by Henry P. Dawson of the
banking house of ]. p Morgan & Co.
Dawson then took the witness stand
and testified that he brought the treaty
copy to the United States from Paris
under the impression that it was pub
lie property. Upon discovering that it
had not been printed here he locked it
in his safe, he said, after showing it
to no one but ex-senator Root. He
justified his possession of his copy be-
cause of his position as chairman of
the board of governor of the League
of Red Cross Societies and because of
his position as an international bank
er, interested in the rehabilitation OF
war-devastated Europe"
Washington, June 12.-Former Sec
retary of State Elihu Root was fol-
lowed on the witness stand in the SEN
ate treaty leak inquiry by Henry p.
DAWSON who admitted that he brought
copy of the peace treaty from Paris.
He testified, however, that no one
had read the copy except himself and
Mr.. Root. 49,
Mr.. Dawson added he had not shown
his copy of the treaty to }. T. Morgan
or any other member of the firm.
Senator Lodge declared that Mr.
Root had shown him the treaty while
he was in New York.
Bankers Before Committee.
Washington, June III. ?. Morgan
and Henry ?. Dawson of the Morgan
banking house appeared before the
senate foreign relations c/nmittee
when it resumed its probe Of Senator
Borahs charges that copies of the
peace treaty had fallen into the pos
session of certain American financial
interests before the senate had ac-
cess to the voluminous document.
Elihu Root, former senator and sec
retary Of state, entered the commit
tee room almost Immediately after Mr..
Morgan and Mr.. Dawson arrived.
Root Admits Having Copy.
Mr.. Root the first witness called,
admitted having a copy of the treaty.
"The publication of the purpose of
the committee to inquire into the
possession of copies of the draft
treaty with Germany led me to feel
that it was proper for me to come
here and give the committee certain
knowledge which have,' Root said.
II have q copy of the treaty and
have had 1t for several weeks. 1t
was sent to me by Henry 2. Dawson
Of the Red Cross" he continued.
81 stand upon my right to have it.
| deny that anyone can question that
right
81 assert the entire propriety of my
having it and his giving it to me-"
Believe Root Gave Out Text.
Mr.. Roots appearance revived the
= hn who rnCnntlU
placed copy of the peace treaty in
Senator Lodges hands in New York.
It was stated that he had volunteere'
to testify before the committee.
Frank A. Vanderlip, former presi-
dent of the National City bank of
New York, showed up Just before
Senator Lodge, as chairman of the
committee, opened the hearing.
Senator Lodge began by reading a
telegram from Jacob II. Schiff Of
Kuhn, Loeb &. Co., in which he
Tegged to be excused from appear
ing before the committee
Former Senator Root was the first
witness called, Senator Lodge ex-
planning that he had volunteered to
appear as a witness" and "had to
take an early train back to New
York"
Borah to Conduct Quiz.
Upon Senator Borah was to rest
largely the task of questioning them
along lines already indicated by him,
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts, SEN
ate majority leader and chairman of
the committee, having announced that
tht Idaho senator, rather than him
self. would conduct the examination,
as Ii was at Borah's request that Nor
gar and Dawson were summoned be-
fore the committee.
The committee assembled in the
quarters prepared for 1t in the senate
office building for the conduct of Its
investigations. Special precautions