The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-06-13
Dawson Brought Copy From
France; Got 1t From La
mont; Gave 1t to Root.
PROBE BELIEVED AT END
Dawson Says He Secured Copy
to Clear Up Red Cross
Status Under the League
Covenant.

peace treaty reached private hands
in New York and thus stirred up a
sensation in the senate was estab-
lished at two-hour hearing before
the foreign relations committee.
Senator Lodge revealed that the
copy he saw was shown him by Elihu
Root, former secretary Of state
Mr.. Root told the committee he got
II from Henry p. DAWSON, member
OF the Morgan banking house and
head of the Red Cross, and Mr.. Da-
Vison in turn testified it was given
him in Paris by Thomas w. Lamont,
another Morgan partner attached to
the American peace mission.
j. p. Morgan and Frank A. Van
derlip, retiring president of the Ma
tional City bank, also before the
committee, said they never had seen
a copy.
With that the committee adjourn
ed without setting a date to continue
the hearing and with members on
both sides Of the treaty controversy
saying privately that the investiga-
tion apparently was over
Why Dawson Got Copy.
Mr.. Dawson said he secured the
copy to clear up the status OF the Red
Cross under the league of nations,
and never had used 1t in a financial
way. He had shown it to no one ex-
cept Mr.. Root, he continued, and
had sent II to him because he knew
the former secretary was being con-
suited by the American mission.
Mr.. Root gave il as his opinion
that there was nothing improper in
the way the treaty reached him and
that he was free to use It as he
chose. There could be nothing Sc
cret about it, he told the committee.
because the German government had
made 1t public.
Under questioning, Mr. Root. who
appeared in the inquiry voluntarily.
went on to say that while the senate
was in its right in asking for a COPY
after the treaty became public in
Germany, President Wilson also was
within his in Withholding it If he
chose
All the witnesses said they had
heard rumors of other copies in New
York but did not know whether thev
existed. Like statements were made
in kilograms to the committee by
Jacob Schiff, of Kohn, Loeb & Co..
and Paul Warburg. formerly part
ner in the same firm.
Seems at StandstiII.
The inquiry, ordered by the senate
last week, seems to have reached a
standstill because no one has any
further witnesses to suggest. Sana-
tor Lodge and Senator Borah, Re-
publican, of Idaho, who made the
revelation which started the inyes-
tigation. said they considered all
their statements in the senate had
been proved. and Senator Hitchcock.
Democrat, of Nebraska, author OF the
investigation resolution, declared
the inquiry apparently had lapsed
without showing any dangerous leak
in diplomatic channels.
Senator Borah questioned Mr.. Da-
Vison at length to support his declar-
alton In the senate that the treaty
was in he hands of certain inter-
ests' which were peculiarly inter-
ested' in it. Asked directly whether
he had a peculiar interest" in the
document, the witness replied that
he certainly had, though he never
used his knowledge OF the text in
any financial way
Mr.. Morgan and Mr.. Vanderlip
were not examined at length regard.
ing the treaty. but from the latter.
who recently returned from abroad.
the committee got considerable in
formation about conditions in Eu-
ropean countries. Both were aues-
toned also regarding the present
status Of international banking.
In this telegram Mr.. Warburg en-
pressed willingness to testify
should the committee desire it. and
he probably will be called If the in
quiry Is resumed. Mr. Schiff asked