New-York tribune., 1919-06-12
TreatyLeak Quickly
Explained; Sena-
tors See No Inn
propriety in Act
Pact Is Called
No Ones Secret
Morgan and Wander
lip Say They Did
Not See Document
By Carter Field
New York Tribune
Washington Bureau

NeW York Tribuns
WASHINGTON Buredu
WASHINGTON, June 1.-two mem
bers of the firm of J. P. Morgan & Co.
caused the "leak of the peace treaty."
it developed to-day at the opening of
the investigation by the Senate For
eign Relations Committee of reports
that certain interests" in Wall Street
had copies of the text while it was
being denied to the Senate and the
people of the United States.
Thomas w. Lamont, on leave of alb
sence from ]. P. Morgan & Co., while
he is representing the Treasury De-
partment at the peace conference, gave
another partner of the firm, Henry P.
Dawson. copy of the text. This copy
was lent by Mr.. Dawson, on arriving
in this country, to Elihn Root. Mr..
Root allowed Senator Lodge to read
it while the Massachusetts Senator was
IN New York a few days ago. This is
the copy whicss Mr.. Lodge told the
Senate he had read.
There Is strong probability that to-
days hearing, which was the first. also
will be the last, Of the leak investiga-
ton. Several Senators would like to
question Mr.. Lamont, who gave the
treaty to Mr.. Dawson, but most of
them seem to feel that further hear
ings are unnecessary, especially as Mr..
Lamont is in France
J. P. Morgan and Frank A. Wander
lip, retiring president of the National
City Bank, the only witnesses besides
Messrs. Root and Dawson, said they
had never seen a copy of the treaty
text
Root Statement Voluntary
The explanation Of the leak"
was brought out in the testimony
Of ex-senator Root, who volun-
tairly appeared to clear up the mys-
terry, although ne had not been sum
:noned. His appearance to-day was
a complete surprise TO everyone ex-
cept Senator Lodge, who had promised
the Foreign Relations Committee he
would ask permission to give the name
of the person who had allowed him
to read the treaty.
Most Of the members of the COM
mittee seemed perfectly satisfied that
no wrong had been committed. Mr..
Davison's explanation that he wanted
the text so as to have ell the infofma-
ton possible to guide him in connec-
ton with organizing league Of Red
Cross societies of the world to re-
lieve the situation caused by the war,
and also to lay plans for the indus
trial upbuilding Of Europe, was ap-
parently convincing to the committee
members, judging from their COM
ments and questions.
His explanation of why he gave the
treaty to Senator Root-that Mr.. Roots
advice had been repeatedly asked and
given by the peace mission, and Mr..
Dawson had thought the full text of
the treaty might aid Mr. Root as a
cable advisor Of the peace mission
also seemed convincing to the commit
tee members
View Generally Accepted
Both Senator Root and Mr. Dawson
defended vigorously their possession of
the treaty, and no Senator on the COM
mittce. with the possible exception of
Mr.. Borah, some Of whose questions
might have been otherwise interpreted.
appeared to find any fault with the
proceeding.
Senator Johnson, of California, and
others went out of their way to give
assurance to the contrary. emphasizing
that the only complaint they were max
ing was that the American people had
been denied the same information. Mr..
Root, whose experience in interna-
tional affairs has given him a wide
reputation, not only assented to this.
but said it would have been wiser on
the part of the President and better
for the public business if he had kept
the Senate informed of his progress
during the proceedings of the peace
conference.
Senator John Sharp Williams, the
closest friend the President has in the
Senate surprafd his colleagues by