The sun., 1919-09-02
FOUR TREATIES
DENIED SENATE
BY PRESIDENT
Refuses to Transmit Drafts
for Peace With Allies of
Germany.
STANDS ON HIS RIGHTS
Asserts Power of Negotia-
tion Rests Solely With
the Executive.
LODGE CLOSES INCIDENT
Accepts Situation, Though He
Admits Committee Is Work
ing in Dark.
LODGE CLOSES INCIDENT

WAsHINGToN, Sept. 1.-The request
OF the Foreign Relations Committee
for latest drafts OF the proposed trea-
ties with Germany's allies, Austria,
Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria, has
been refused by President Wilson on
the ground that compliance would set
precedent encouraging Senatorial
encroachment on the Presidential
power Of treaty negotiations.
In an exchange or letters made pub
lie to-day Mr.. Wilson wrote that 1t
was "out Of the question" TO accede to
the committees suggestion, and Chair
man Lodge (Mass.) replied that al
though the treaties were closely con-
nected with the treaty with Germany
the President undoubtedly had author
ity to keep information about them
from the Senate If he chose.
The correspondence apparently has
brought another impasse between the
President and the committee on the
much debated subject of what infor-
nation the Senators should have in
their consideration of the treaty with
Germany. Mr.. Lodge and others have
asserted the committee could not act
intelligently until all the Versailles
treaties were before it.
Rhine Agreement Also Refused.
A copy Of the agreement OF June 1s
relative to the Rhine district also was
denied the committee. the President
writing that 1t would become pertinent
! only after the treaty was ratified and
that its publication now might be em-
barrassing to other Governments To
this Senator Lodge replied that 1t al
ready had been published in a British
White Book and from that source had
been circulated in this country through
the Congressional Record.
The correspondence was made public
| by Mr.. Lodge, who indicated that nc
| further effort would be made by the
committee in the matter.
The President wrote to Senator Lodge
ALLOW me to acknowledge the receipt
of your letter OF August 23 and to say
that l shall take pleasure in laying be-
fore the Senate the treaty with Poland
signed at Versailles on the 2Sth of June
and the agreement between the United
States, Belgium, the British Empire and
France OF the one part and Germany OF
the other part, with regard to the mill
tary occupation of the territories OF tht
Rhine. also signed at Versailles on the
| 2Sth of June
The declaration of the 10th of JUNE
to which you refer was a mere declara.
ton OF policy and does not become In
any way pertinent until the treaty IL
ratified. My impression is that a Ger.
tain degree of embarrassment would bt
caused, not to the United States but tc
the countries with which we must neces.
sarily cooperate in many particulars ir
the execution of the treaty, II 1t were
communicated now. It will of course bt
made public in due time.
with regard to the treaties with
Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey
it would be out of the question for ms
| to submit them in their present form
even to the Committee on Foreign Rela,
| tions. They are in process of negotia
ton. are subject to change and recon
sideration until completed and signed
I am sure that the Committee on For
eign Relations will appreciate the iunde
STABILITY of creating the precedent
which would be created by submitting
treaties in their draft form. 1t woulS
tend to take the function OF negotiatinl
treaties out of the hands of the Execu
tive, where It is expressly vested by tn,
Constitution"
Reply of Senator Lodge.
Senator Lodge replied;
81 am indebted to you for your lette
OF August 28. which reached me las
evening. i also have to thank you To-
sending to the Senate the treaty witt
Poland, signed at Versailles on the 28tl
of June, and the agreement between tn,
United States, Belgium and the British
Empire OF one part and Germany of tn
other part with regard to the militar.
occupation Of the territory of the Rhine
also signed at Versailles on the 2sth o
June. The declaration of the 18th O
June was printed some time ago in tn
Record from the English White Book
the declaration having been submitte
to the House of Commons on the 4th o
July, believe. The committee aske.
for It merely because they thought /
would be better that It should be on
cially before them.
"As to the request of the committe
TOR drhIts OF INFORMATION regarding tn
treaties with Austria, Hungary. Bul
gaIia and Turkey, the committee o
course were aware that negotiations ar
wholly in the hands of the Executiv
and there was no thought OF trespassinI
on your jurisdiction. You noticed, O
course. that the request asked merel
for such information as you could Civ
them II 1t was not incompatible wit
the public interest. The four treatie
still to be made are so closely connects
with the German treaty that many Sen
ators have thought that all the peac
treaties should be considered togethe
and the request was made merely 70
such information as you'felt could b
properly given in regard to those treatie
not yet submitted in the hope that
might hasten action upon the treaty O
peace with Germany. II II is not com
patible with the public interest 70 Civ
any information In regard to them, tina
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