The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-22
President Asks Approval of
Appointment of Repara-
tiOns Commissioner.
WOULD SELECT BARUCH
Foreign Relations Members
See Attempt to Commit
Them to Treaty.
DEMOCRATS WAVERING
Edge, Calder and Cummins Are
Invited to White House
Conferences To-day.
DEMOCRATS WAVERING
SpeciaI pespatch to THE suN.

oD6c1dt DesDdtch 10 lHE GuN'
WASHINGTON, July 21. President
Wilson has written to Senator Lodge
tMass.). chairman Of the Foreign Re
lations Committee suggesting the i'm
portance OF having an American MEM
ber of the Reparations Commission
appointed. This commission will be
entrusted on behalf of the Peace Con-
ference with the vast business Of ad-
ministering the reparation clauses Of
the treaty.
The President expressed the hope
that the Foreign Relations Committee
will indicate its approval Of provi-
sional appointment to this commission.
Theoretically Of course there can be
no Preparations Commission at pres
ent because the treaty has not been
ratified. But the President points out
that the commissions work is now or
ganizing and it is important to Amer
lean business that this country be rep
resented in this stage. His letter to
Senator Lodge follows:
MY DEAR SENATOR: Tnere are
some things in connection with the
execution of the treaty Of peace
which can hardly await the action
of the several Governments which
must act with regard to the ratifi-
cation OF the treaty, and the chief
Of these is the functioning OF the
Reparations Commission. 1t is of
such importance to the business in
terests of the United States, as we'll
as to the nations with which we
are associated, that the United
States should be represented on
that commission, and represented
now while the work of the commits
sion Is taking shape, that am taxi
ing the liberty Of writing to ask il
you will not be kind enough to
consult the Committee on Foreign
Relations with regard to the par
ticular appointment and say to
them that / would very much ap-
preciate their approval OF my ap-
pointing Professionally a represen-
tative of the United States to act
upon the Preparations Commission.
Very sincerely yours.
WOODROW WILSON.
Baruch slated for Post.
It is understood in official circle
that President Wilson intends to ap
point Bernard NJ. Baruch Of New Yor
as the American representative o
the Reparatiou Commission, Durin
the war Mr.. Baruch was chairman c
the War Industries Board. and
aA1 la ~ oKtO tn vi Tiv,er
reparations and economic clauses {
the treaty.
Senator Lodge laid the President
letter before the committee to-day an
It caused a considerable divergence {
opinion. Some anti-Administratio
Senators frankly regarded it as a
effort of the President to commit II
committee to the tacit acceptance
these important parts of the treat
thus committing this Government to a
extent that would increase the diff
Guilty of a possible rejection of IL
instrument.
Senator williams (Miss.). on beha
of the Administration Senators, intr
duced in the committee a resolutiC
which, If adopted, would express a
uuiescence in the Presidents wish.
follows:
Resolved, That we recognize no
Jurisdiction in the members OF this
committee as a committee over the
subject matter in Its present status.
but we think the President has the
power to appoint the American Com
missioner In order to expedite the
completion of the details OF the pro-
posed treaty.
Mr.. Harding (ohio). Republican. to-
the view that II was impossible to 6
up any part OF the machinery for q
.ministsring the treaty while the trea
was not yet ratified. So he moved as
substitute:
That the chairman be instructed tc
reply to the President that in the
t.dgment OF the committee neither
ne committee nor the Senate hai
apy authority to take action In re-
spect TO any treaty provision until
said treaty becomes effective through
ratification.
Senator Hitchcock (Neb) then NOV