The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-11

During an hour in the witness chair,
Mr.. Root said he thought President
Wilson was within his constitutional
rights In not sending the treaty to the
senate, but thought 1t perfectly legiti-
mate for the senate to ask for it after
it had been published by the German
government. He gave 1t as his opinion
that the president was within his rights
in not consulting the senate more freely
on the negotiations, but thought /
would have facilitated a solution had
that been done.
Md. Root saw nothing improper In
Mr. Dawson having a copy Of the
treaty.
At the conclusion Of Mr. vanderlip's
Ttestimony the committee ended the
hearing for the day and went into ex-
ecutive session.
Chairman Lodge at the opening of
the hearing read telegram from Jacob
Schiff, saying he knew absolutely
nothing, directly or Indirectly regard
ing the treaty, and calling Mr.. Root to
the witness chair explained he appeared
voluntarily and requested to be heard.
publication of the desire of the COM
Inittee to learn how the copies Of the
treaty reached this country" said Mr..
Root In beginning his statement, lied
me to feel 1t was proper, II not duty,
for me to come here and give the COM
mittee certain knowledge on that sub
ject which / have.
Il have a copy of that so-called
treaty; have had 1t for several weeks
IT was sent me by H. P, Dawson, chair
man Of the International Red. Cross
league, stand upon my right to have
lt. ! assert the entire propriety Of
I his giving il to me. He had II be-
cause OF his legitimate interests In the
Red Cross, involved in the treaty"
Mr.. Root said he understood Mr.. Da-
vtson had the copy in Paris in connec-
Ian pa1
i away with him, there being at that
time no injunction against bringing
copies to the United States"
1T was. not secret document" con-
tinued Mr.. Root; parts Of it, probably
the. covenant OF the league Of nations,
had been published"
Huns Give It Out.
Mr.. Root remarked that the German
government had made the treaty pub.
lie in detail, adding:
1t thereupon became public proper
~. There are two parties to the me-
>gotiations. Either party has the right
. TO make. it public. No longer can any
diplomatic secrecy attach The Ger
to make. public this paper made it
public and it is pCoIc.
Il should be inclined to resent any
suggestion from anybody" Mr. Root
} Sdded sharply, that am not entitled
II and to use it as l see fit, which
.m Mr.. Root said he believed secrecy
was not imposed until after Mr.. Davi-
4 son left Paris.
AT the time this paper was sent to
me, didn't know and judge he didn't
Know. Of this Injunction he said.
Il Judge this paper did not get into
Mr.. Davison's hands before the njunc-
non was nader" asked Senator Pom
Yes" said Mr.. Root II think vou
wail find that the men who left Paris
bssSre May, 15 all brought their copies
Probably two or three thousand, he
added. were engaged in drawing the
complete terms
Mr. Root thought the U. s. had L.
400 men on the payroll at Paris and
OF those probably zoo or 300 had capies
Senator New Republican, Indiana.
asked whether, Mr.. Root regarded it
ieEsstmate" for the senate to request
'U.sdoubtedly.' Mr.. Root replied,
We have contended that the senate
is entitled to copy" said Senator
Borah. 10 you regard that as cor
Il do. l think every American citi.
zen was entitled to see copy of the
paper made public by the German gov
ernment."
THAT is essentially the fight we
have been making" Senator Johnson
Republican, California, interjected.
Senator Pittman, Democrat, OF Ne
vada, asked Mr. Root whether he
thought 1t right to request that dis
tribution of the treaty be withheld. Mr.
Root thought that quite reasonable and
WISE"
II do think" he added. 'it would
! have been wise and appropriate course
to keep the senate advised from time
TO time about the progress of the nego-
4 tiations. But think when 1t appeared
4 that there might. be changes It was
quite wise to say, Don't distribute this
y now"
Saw No Differences.
Fl Senator Harding, Republican, Ohio,
remarked some newspapers were say
N ing the treaty text did not correspond
in some respects with the summary. :
Il didn't notice anything which /
tn4ught e especially imPortant, which iva, was
II Mr., Root said he had not studied
some Of the European provisions very
fcarefullys however, as he did not SYM
pathize with our mixing up with all
he little quarrels of Europe" The copy
he saw was dated April 30 and bore
the imprint of home labor organiza-
lion"
Senator Johnson, asked whether he
knew Of any other copies in New York,
\ Bald:
| Il do not, but I judge by various
fumors going around that there are
: many" N
DO you think asked Senator
Rrandegee, "any damage was done to
NE negotiation of the treaty by its
pblication in the Congressional Rec
sGtd?n
F'I think NO damage could have been
ne," replied Mr., Root, unless ii
&As through withdrawing the attention
W the senate from the various other
portant matters awaiting action"
N When Mr.. Root was asked IL he
|>ught President Wilson had acted
perly in not consulting the senate
fe closely hA said:
The president exercised his consti-
pnal power and do not want to
Icize him. 1t would have facilitated
|c business and made progress to-