New-York tribune., 1919-12-05

licans are perfectly -ure that the
Presiden will not, see the sub commit
tee and desire to give wide publicity
IN this way to their view that the
PRESIDENT is not performing the duties
of his office.
Fight in Committee
The hght in Committee between the
Democrats and Republicans started i'm
mediately on its c,nvening this morn
ing Chairman Lodge and the Repub-
lscans were anxious to have a report
made at one on the Fall resolution.
They had hopes of its nassing the Snn-
ate before 2 o'clock this afternoon.
whnr tho "mornng hour" closes.
The Democrats blocke this, sparr-
in for time Senator Pittman made
a motion to cali Secretary Lansing.
Senator Moses then suggested that the
committee instruct Senator Lodge to
call on the p esident and discuss the
situation with him before the Fore gn
Relations Committee acted. The
Democrats became so indignant at this
that Mr.. Moses withdrew his proposal.
In the course of the discussion which
had arisen, Senator Hitchcock re-
marked that the President had been
kept in constant touch with the MeXi-
can situation.
ale has not" retorted Senator Fall.
"He has not been consulted in sim
gle move the State Department has
made, and knows nothing about it save
what he may have been permitted to
reed in the newspapers"
Mr.. Hitchcock ins ;sted that ne was
rirht. whereupon Mr.. Fall said: "All
ri, ht. let's call Secretary Lansing and
ash him about it,
The committee then voted to call
Mr.. Lansing, who. several hours later,
testified that he had not seen the
President concerinc Mexico since the
Pres dent became ill., The committee
got the imp, ession that not only had
Mr.. Lansing not talked with the Presi-
dent. but there had been no cdmmuni-
and the White House on Mexico at
all
Some Democratic Senators not on the
committee expressed surprise tonight
when they heard tho outcome of the
committee meeting. They said they we're
astonished that the Democrats on the
committee had not permitted-in pref
erence to this move to consult the
President the favorable reporting of
the Fall resolution, and fer that mat
ter its passage by the Senate.
Lansing and Fall Cooperate
"The resolution is only advisory to
che President said one Democratic
Senator "The President could have
pirc conholed it had he desired. and the
incident would have been over. AS it
stands the whole affair is unfortunate.
Secretary Lansing in his testimony
showed p,ainly that Mr.. Fall had been
coorera ing with him through the H.
Ts,~ :
subcommittee of which Mr.. Fall is
chairman. 1t was this committee which
went to the border and collected data
purporting to show that Carranza S
agents in this country, with his con-
sent, distributed B lshevik nropaga
da. Ambassador Fletcher, another wit
ness before the committee, testified
that he had been designated by Mr.
Lansing to assist Mr.. Fall in the in
vestigation.
Secretary Lansing, however. urged
strongly that the Fall res olut.on shou d
be delayed. Action at this time. he
thought, might endanger American
lives in Mexico; might result in the
South American countries protesting
and would tend to destroy American
commerce.
Discussing the basis of the State
Der rartment's attitude, MIR. Lansing is
that prior to Americas entry into the
war the Pres dent had particularly
desired to avoid break with Mexico
lest this development hinder his efforts
10 prevent ENHANCEMENT of the United
States in the European conflict. He
feared that the financial interests of
Allied nations in Mexico, as we'll rs
-he sympathy. between the Mexican and
German governments, would force COM
plications.
United States Takes New Course
After America declared war, the
Secret"ry indicated, the plots ta en-
intensified the necessity of avoiding
the issue between the United States
and Carranza. In view Of these facts,
Mr. Lansing held, the State Depart
ynent marked time in its dealings with
Mexico during the war, but with the
conclusion OF peace had notified
Mexico that further disregard of
American rights would be followed by
United States.
sisted that since this pronouncement
It's changed attitude, which was based
on a decision made with the Presi-
dents approval. Mr.. Lansing said he
did not believe it was necessary,
therefore, to take up the case of Mr..
Jenkins with the President in person.
After Mr.. Lansing's statement Sen.