The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-12

pire and we are asked to assent to H.
continued Mr.. Brandegee. 1T seems
germane for us to know at least what
constitutes the province of Shantung and
how II IN related to the great empire TO
whose ACKNOWLEDGMENT we are asked to be
a party. The Department OF Commerce
has this report which II secured to aid
American commerce, The minute It is
discovered in the Department Of Com
merce II Is grabbed by the State Depart
ment and put under the seal Of diplo-
matte secrecy. On September IL Senator
Lodge introduced resolution asking the
transmission of this report TO the Sem
ate II was unanimously adopted on
that day. but no attention whatever was
paid to Il and three weeks later Mr..
Lodge called attention to the fact A
few days later this message from the
President was received by the Senate:
"Tn response to the resolution adopt
ed by the Senate September IL, 1919.
"that the Secretary Of State be and he is
hereby requested to send to the Senate
copy of the report made by MI. Paul
| Whitman on naturalization Of transport
tation in China" l am constrained to
| say that after thorough consideration
Of the resolution and with every desire
| to meet the wishes Of the Senate am Of
the belief that the public interests would
not be conserved by the transmission to
| the Senate of the report requested
The Senate" Senator Brandegee re-
| sumed. "one-half the treaty making
power. has pending this treaty involving
a question with which this report deals.
| Though II was originally made to a de-
partment which does not have the right
| 10 decline Senate requests for documents
the Senate is not permitted to see this
report. wonder how many Senators
think the President has read that re-
| port or given 1t thorough considera-
tionT I have seen the original sigma
ture of the President to that commune
cation I do not know whether anything
| can be done about this matter.
Questions Lansing's Right.
What difference does It make whether
Mr.. Lansing approves this report or
not? Is Mr.. Lansing a branch of the
treaty making power7 There Is no ques-
ton about the Senate. Has It come to
the point wherein the consideration OF o
great new world order and a treaty in
volving many nations reports bearing
on vital questions are to be seized from
other departments by the Department Of
State and denied to the Senate under
the seal OF diplomatic secrecy? II was
not diplomatic question. the investiga-
ton was made by a business agency Of
the Government The Secretary Of State
presumed to invade another department
and take Its records, sequester them In
his Department and then say; decline
to give them to the Senate because
have not approved them and do not
think II is in the public interest"
Il did not quite understand the Sena-
tor" interrupted Senator Penrose (pa) &,
whether this was actually the Pres'-
=. dents own signature on this communi-
cation. am a little curious to know
whether he signed it himself"
. Il am not an expert in handwriting, +"
: replied Senator Brandegee. NOR
familiar with the Presidents signature.
did not see the signature or alleged
signature to the response to. the Senate
: resolution. do not know eSvhether II
i was the Presidents signature or not
A message came yesterday or the day
before from the President, and I do
not know whether It contained his
signature or not do not know
whether the messages received from
him during his absence In Europe con.
tained his signature, but the President
arrived here September 30 and was i'm.
mediately taken charge of by his physi.
clan and has been i'll ever since. /,
really have given this matter the
D thorough consideration which he state,
c over his signature he has given as
sumo that II the President signed tn,
reply the State Department sent 1t t.
: him for signature and he signed it as
routine matter. He could not have hat
time to read the report and give 1
; thorough consideration
60.
It Does the Senator recall wnen the re
@ port was nader asked Senator Hitch
Il cock (Neb.). 1T is quite possible tn
3 report has been In the State Department
d for some time and been read by tn
l. President at his leisure. 1t seems to m
4 little reckless for a Senator to ques
! ton a fact officially stated over the Pres
II idents signature without having mad
d inquiries as to the circumstances"
II may be very reckless gentleman,
Ie retorted Senator Brandegee, though
ID do not feel reckless at this moment"
IF the report was of the importanc
le suggested 1t is quite likely that tn
Is President had discussed 1t with the See
1t rotary Of State" replied Senator Hitch
n cock.
70 "All things are possible" replied Sens
y tor Brandegee. II have formed no cor
Il elusive Judgment about this matter
re have stated that ! do not know the dat
VI OF this report or when 1t was fled 1
~ the Department of Commerce. I under
~ stand Mr.. Whitman is now in Chin
- I do know that while the report was
ls s the Department Of Commerce. I learne
u 1t was there from a gentleman who ha
y =. read It and who told me, as I recollec
rs that It showed the extent to which Il
40 Japanese were penetrating China an
~ controlling its avenues of transport.
ton, and proposing a way to neutralil
~ the transportation system of China
O. that the policy of the open door for a
nations could not be defeated or put 1
peril by Japan or any other nation.
MY informant was not allowed [
make a copy of the document. but T,