New-York tribune., 1919-07-19
ident or the Secretary of State, and
not within that of the Secretary Of

ident or the Secretary of State, and
not within that Of the Secretary Of
War.
Problem Was administrative"
Chairman Johnson, after remarking
that if War Department funds could
be used to transport Czecho-Slovaks
because they were i'll and wounded
they could be used to relieve distre SIS
almost anywhere, asked Mr.. Baker why
he did not come to Congress for au-
thority.
ut was purely an administrative
problem" answered the Secretary, "and
there was no occasion to ask Congress
to deal with the subject That is why
you have administrative agencies in the
government. 1t would be impossible
for Congress to pass on all such mat
ters. You know that it is slow
process to get a joint resolution
through Congress-"
Continuing, the Secretary explained
that the CzechoSlovaks who were being
moved were mostly convaiescents from
wounds or disease, and that their re-
movai from Vladivostok was essential
Tor reasons of health. If the United
States did not relieve the situation. it
might have developed into one that
might have lead to an epidemic for
which we would pay with our bodies
here"
The Secretary said that the War De
paftment had nothing to do with the
ddeclslon to transport the Czecho-
Slovaks. 1t was merely carrying out
the decision. Asked if the agreement
whereby the Unitd States was to con-
vey half of the Czecho- -Slovaks and
Great Britain half was not a part of
the peace treaty arrangements, Secre-
tary Baker said that the decision was
probably made by the Supreme War
Council and that the State Depart
ment and DR.. Gay, of the War Trade
Board, had considered that the trans
portation of these men was wise The
United States share Of them was about
5000
Calling attention to General Maruh's
statement of the object of the ST
berian expedition, in which the Pres
dent was cited as the author of the
policy, Mr.. Bland questioned Secretary
Baker about it, but he refused to
answer, saying that he would not make
a comment on the Presidents policy.
lively interchange of questions and
refusals to answer ensued, the Secre-
tary persistently but blandly saying
that the subject, being an international
one, he must for reasons of public
policy decline to answer.
The question of sending troops to
Siberia was plainly matter for the
President to decide and l must refer
you to him for any information you
dcsire,' was the Secretary's last word
on the subject.
After a diversion in which he COM
plained that the War Department was
slow in furnishing data asked for by
him, Mr.. Bland tried to get the Secre-
tary to concede that the transporting
of the Czecho- Slovaks was an abuse Of
authority. On the contrary, Mr. Baker
said that it was "a matter of informed
and sound discretion"
you interpret your authority verv
literally. do you not?" asked Mr.
Yes, literally enough at all times
for the safety of our cause and the
support of our Allies. These men
have been fighting our enemy for four
years. They are very tired"
"Was there any danger to our cause
in leaving them in Siberia? ?"
There was some," Mr.. Baker ans
wered.
"As matter of fact the transporta-
tion of these men was undrtaken as
a matter Of humanity and not of mill
tary necessity, was it not, and, there,
fore, it was not within your author
ity?"
act of humanity coincided with one of
military necessity. These people are
our friends"
The hearing was abruptly suspended
in order to let Secretary Baker hasten
to review the Czecho- -Slovaks.