Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-05

have demanded senatorial investiga-
ton. The speech drew replies from
both Mr. Lodge and Mr.. Borah.
Calls It Urgent Matter.
This is a matter of most tremen-
dous urgency" declared Senator
Hitchcock, Involving the charge made
on the responsibility of two senators
that copies of the peace treaty have
gone into the hands of New York in
terests while being withheld from
the United States Senate. The de-
mand for an investigation should
have been made by the senators who
lugged into the Senate this charge.
They did not appreciate the gravity
of the charge. or else did not realize
the embarrassing position they placed
themselves in by not calling for the
investigation"
that when Senator Lodge. leader Of
one faction of republicans in the Sem
ate. and Senator Borah. leader OF an
other faction, made such charges it
would seem evident that the repub-
licans were in entire accord.
Senator Lodge interrupted to say
somewhat tartly that Senator Hitch
cock had quoted him indirectly.
Il will quote the senator later" said
Senator Hitchcock.
IT hope you will" replied Senator
Lodge
Senator Hitchcock continued, declar-
ing that the charge made to the eff
feet that these New York concerns
held copies of the treaty involved an
attack on the President of the most
dangerous character.
New Chapter in Attack on Treaty.
1T is a new chapter in the attack
on the treaty ITSELF" said Senator
Hitchcock. cit was done for the pur-
pose of conveying to the public mind
an impression that a secret under
standing exists between the President
and others at the peace conference and
financial interests in New York It is
monstrous charge. The men who
made 1t should demand an investiga-
ton. They would demand it if the
charge had really been in the public
interest and not as an attack upon
the treaty.
Il want to know how these New
York interests got copies of the trea-
wants to know. 1t is not enough to
leave this knowledge to the senators
who were taken into the confidence Of
these New York interests"
Referring to a statement of Senator
Lodge to the effect that he had held
a copy of the treaty in his hands and
had been offered it. but had declined,
unless it could be made public, Sena-
tor Hitchcock said:
IF the senator from Massachusetts,
held copy of the treaty in his hands
he held stolen goods, secured by
bribery-goods which the President and
the representatives OF the other ma
tions at the peace conference in Paris
had promised should not be made
public"
Senator Lodge Replies.
Senator Lodge then took the floor
and said:
81 shall be delighted to have the
resolution passed. Indeed. 1 wanted
TO get it before the committee on
audit and control of the expenses of
the Senate today. so that II would be
referred at once to the foreign rela-
tons committee, of which I am chair
man and the senator from Nebraska
a member. Then we could investigate
each other with great pleasure
Senator Lodge went on to say that
he would tell the Senate as much as
the committee could find out and save
time. He said that while in New
York he was shown by friend, a
private citizen and a man of the
highest integrity, copy of the treaty.
II he were at liberty to mention the
gentleman's name. which he is not,
the country would know that any
suggestion that this gentleman had
obtained the treaty by corruption was
o".rageous.
The treaty covered EOS folio pages
in the English text. What had inter-
ested him most was an article at the
end of the treaty about the same
length as the covenant of the league
OF nations articles which proposes to
set up an organization for the inter-
NJ tional annexation of labor.
Senator Lodge said that he was aft
erward told by another gentleman,
not connected with any business In
terests. that he also had q copy of
senator. but which the senator re-
fused to take on the ground that he
would have to make it public If 1t
came into his possession.
Ignorant Of Financial" Copy.
II did not go within two or three
miles of Wall street.. said Senator
Lodge, 80 / cannot bear witness as
10 whether the financial interests in
New York had copies of the treaty.
Bot the State Department has ga i'd
that the copy to which I have refer
red must have been a copy Of certain
lrarts of the treaty which were in the
hands of financial interests sup-
gest that you investigate your own
state Department"
nator Hitchcock challenged the
"a ement that the State Department
had admitted there were copies OF
parts Of the treaty I'm the hands OF
financial interests In this country
Senator Lodge insisted that it had
been published in the newspapers that
Acting Secretary Polk had made such
a statement.