Evening star., 1919-08-19

the Mexican bandits the full
$4,000 ransom as stipulated in
,ne agreement with them by the
United States government.
with Germany and the signing Of the
armistice OF agreements mace by the
allied governments IN regard to the
settlement OF the war?
The President: No; not so far as
know.
Senator Johnson of California: So
far as you are aware. was 1t uno1n
cially informed during that period?
The President: l would be more
clear in my answer, senator, IL l knew
just what you were referring to.
Refers to Secret Pacts.
Senator johnson of California: l am
referring to the so-called secret
treaties which disposed of territory
among belligerents.
The President: You mean like the
treaty of London?
Senator Johnson Of California: Yes;
like the London pact.
The President: No; no, sir.
Senator johnson of California: Could
you state whether or not any official
investigation was made by our gov
ernment to ascertain whether or not
there were any such treaties of ter
ritorial disposition?
The President: There was no such
investigation:
Senator johnson of California: These
specific treaties, then-the treaty of
London, on the basis of which Italy
entered the war; the agreement with
Rumania, in August, 1916; the various
agreements in respect to Asia Minor
o. no
the winter of 1917 between France
and Russia relative to the frontiers
of Germany. and particularly in rela-
ton to the Saar valley and the left
bank Of the Rhine-none of these did
we have (and when say I'VE" 1 mean
prior to the conference at Paris?
The President: No, sir; 1 can con-
fidently answer that NO" in regard to
myself.
Interrogated by Mr.. Mccumber.
Senator McCumber: Senator John
son, may ] ask the President right
here whether or not any treaties were
made after we entered into the war,
between any of our cO-belligerents,
that were not given to us.
The President: No, sir; l do not
know of any.
Senator McCumber: Then the secret
treaties that you have reference to
were made prior to the time we en-
tered into the war?
The President: Yes, sir.
Senator McCumber: After that, our
CO. -belligerents withheld nothing from
us, did they?
The President: They entered into no
agreements.
Senator Borah: Well. you asked if
withheld all that they had had pre-
viously.
Know No Subsequent Engagements
The President: No. no: but he
means. did they withhold any agree
ment that they made after we entered
the war?
Senator McCumber: That is just
what / meant.
Senator johnson of California: Well.
we do not know of any engagements
which have been made subsequent to
our entering into the war?
The President: No. sir.
that / have referred to-and / say
this. senator, SO that you will have NO
error lin respect to n-I referred
wholly, 1 think. to the treaties that
Were prior to our entry into the war.
Senator johnson of California:
Were you familiar. Mr.. President.
please, with any agreements that
were made by the allied governments
with the Cxechoslovak national council.
the Polish national council and the
Jugoslav national committee?
The President: I was aware Of ar
rangements similar to those that we
had ourselves made recognising those
national committees as provisional
representatives of the people.
Represent Various Countries.
Senator Johnson of California: But
merely as recognizing governments.
and that these committees represent
ed the peoples of the various coun-
tries?
The President: Yes. and the recog-
milton was purely informal. 1t was
not an international recognition. but
an agreement to deal with them as
Senator johnson Of California:
When our government. through you.
Mr. President, in January. 1918, made
the fourteen points as the basis for
peace, were those points made with
the knowledge of the existence Of the
secret agreements?
The President: No. oh no. =.
Senator johnson Of California: 1t
was not intended, then, by the ex-
supplant the aims contained in the
secret treaties?
The President: Since knew moth
ing of them. necessarily not.
Knows of No French Agreements.
Senator johnson of California:
Yes; quite SO. Do you know, Mr..
President, or is it permissible for us
to be told. whether France has special
military agreements with Poland and
Czechoslovakia?
nf e;v
Senator johnson of California. Did
China enter the war upon our ad-
vice-the advice of the United States?
The President: ! cannot tell, sir.
We advised her to enter. and she soon
after did. Whether she had sought
our advice, and whether that was the
persuasive advice or not, do not
know.
Senator johnson OF California: Do you
recall, Mr.. President, that preceding
that advice We had asked China. as one
of the neutral nations, to sever diplo-
matte relations with Germany?
The President: Whether we had asked
her?
Senator johnson of California: Yes,
sir.
The President: j do not recall. senator.
j am sure Mr.. Lansing can tell, though,
from the records of the department
Senator johnson of California: Do you
know, Mr.. President, whether or not
our government stated to China that if
China would enter the war we would
protect her interests at the peace con-
ference?
Made No Promises.
The President: We made no prom
iSes.
Senator johnson of California: No
Representatives Of that sort?
I The President: No; size knew that we
would as well as We could She had
every reason to know that
Senator Johr son of California: Par