The Washington times., 1919-06-11
ROOT SAYS DAWSON
GAVE TREATY TOHIM
CONTINUED from Firs, Page)

Continued from FRS; Page)
no idle curiosity but a part Of the
official duty OF a man who abandon
co his great business and gave his
time TO the Red Cross"
Senator Knox asked Root regard
ing Senator Hitchcock's charge on
the Senate floor that The treaty was
stolen property"
do you desire 70 be understood
that YOU did not have possession OF
stolen property as'was charged on the
floor OF the Senate?" Knox asked.
Becomes Indignant.
Il repel any such suggestion" Root
Indignantly replied. Il feel a sense
Of strong resentment at being re-
quired to repel any such suggestion.
Nothing could be more baseless. l
don't consider that 1 am here to plead
to a charge of that kind and l don't
need to.
Mr.. Davison's unseIfish devotion
was beyond our praise and after two
years Of that service il became his
official duty TO keep track OF and be
come familiar with the new rela-
lions the Red Cross was TO assume
under the new treaty.
so he was entitled TO have that
treaty Root repeated, pounding his
fist n the table. 1t was a matter
of no idle curiosity or Interior pur-
pose.
when the treaty became public
property by publication by one party
70 il. he was entitled TO show il.
II am much obliged to him"
Same As Summary.
Senator williams asked Root if he
and the summary.
-The only parts I compared were
the middle sections dealing with Ger
many" Root explained. Il found
q nothing there that had not been
cognizant Of before"
Republican committee members
heckled Hitchcock repeatedly about
his charge that if Lodge held the
treaty in his hands in New York. he
held stolen goods, probably obtained
by bribery.
Hitchcock referred TO "Borah's
charges but Senator Lodge Sharply
reminded him that your statement
shout robbery and bribery was made
ln connection with the treaty l saw
The copy I saw was shown me by
Senator Root"
CrOSs-QuestiOn Hitchcock.
Senator Brandegee asked Hitch
cock: What evidence did you have
when you made the charge
'.''Senator Borah said" Hitch
cock began.
1T wasnE Senator Borah's copy
YOU were talking about" interrupted
Lodge. 1t was mine"
We didn't know where you got
your copy" said Hitchcock.
Senator Borah asked Root whether
Re knew where Dawson got his copy.
Foot said he did not
.'"Do you think there is anything
><rong or scandalous about a banker
taking a copy Of the treaty if he
saw one?" asked Senator Brandegee.
Can See Nothing Wrong.
u can't see anything wrong in it,"
replied Root
'"Of course, a banker has no more
right than anyone else to steal 4
paper. but when that paper becomes
public the banker has no less right
20 IL than anyone else"
Root suggested that the withhold
ing of the treaty draft was mot be-
cause OF an injunction Of secrecy. but
On account of an Unwillingness to
distribute a paper likely to be
changed
Root said he believed most of the
experts, commissioners and employees
Il the American mission who left
-I'aris before the middle Of May
brought back copies of the treaty.
He said probably two or three hun
cred Of the 1,4OO employees and mem
hers Of the American mission in Paris
nave copies.
Financiers Interested.
Resenting suspicious which he
said had been directed at Amer
5can financiers because Of an inter
est in the treaty, Root said:
Vastly important financial cues
rIons are involved in the treaty (
Markets for American productions /
are involved Nobody but a lunatic I
would try 10 make such a treaty I
vithout the aid Of financial experts. I
o. You may find you can infer some /
-Uspicions about these men, who for
years 10 come are going TO continue
70 Ia ve a legitimate business interest !
n matters treated or by the treaty. F.
but how unfortunate for the United
States II such men are going TO be
oIackened by imputations and sus- /
piclons because Of such interest"
BrandeEee RapS President.
o.. Senator Brandegee asked II the rep !
Fesentatives Of France and Great
Britain took their Parliamcnts into {
rheIr confidence regarding negotia- I,
TiuDS
Those gentlemen meeting in Paris /.
a. negotiate covenants Of peace open /
~ arrived at by every process Of pitt
Ics- publicity behind closed doors" !
snsd BrandeRee. ARE close 70 their
Farliaments, while our Prime Minis
Soy is over there 5000 miles away f.
irving To become President Of the
world. II is mere pifle TO compare
them when the President has To- have
t.go-thirds Of the Senate TO ratify."
DO YOU want that 10 go N the