Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-25
THINGS hlDuEN
IN PEACE TREATY,
AYERS JOHNSON
California Senator Indirectly
Charges Wilson With With
holding Commitments
d Made at Conference.
BY JAMES R. NOURSE.
Universal Service staff Correspondent

Washington, May 24.-The resolu-
ton by Senator Hiram Johnson of
California, demanding the full text
of the peace treaty. plunged the
senate into stirring and at times
angry debate. 1t brought about a
number of sharp clashes between
democratic senators who are sup
porting the league of nations and
republicans who are almost a unit
against it.
The resolution was not passed and
is on the calendar for Monday, when
the debate will be resumed and an
effort made to pass it. During the
time it was before the senate, how
ever, it was the vehicle for bitter at
tacks upon the American delegation
at Paris aud upon the policy Of with
Holding from the American people
the exact terms of the treaty.
President Wilson was indirectly
charged by Senator Johnson with
subscribing to the doctrine of con-
cealing from the American people
I the commitments which have been
laid upon them by the peace con-
Inference.
Lodge Supports Johnson.
Senator Lodge who joined Senator
Johnson in support of the resolu-
ton charged that the summary of
the treaty given out at the presi-
dents direction. was incorrect, in
accurate and misleading" He de-
clared the senate and the people are
entitled to know all that the treaty
contains. Senator Sherman of ILL
nois, speaking for the resolution
made similar statement
Administration senator's accused
the republicans of attempting to en-
barrass and discredit the president
and characterized the resolution as
"meddiesome interference with the
legitimate powers of the executive"
They tried to sidetrack the rcsolu-
ton by having it sent to the COM
mittee on foreign relations. but were
unable to get vote on this motio:..
In calling up the resolution, Sem
ator Johnson said it was obvious
that "the American people are en-
titled to know of any particular mat
ter which has been determined at the
Paris conference and which may
cffect the future of America or may
in any way involve American par
ticipation in subsequent years" He
said it was automatic in past years
that this would have bene done,
adding:
To-day when we believe in open
covenants openly arrived at no
longer is it automatic. and l find to
my surprise and establishment that
resolution asking simply that the
American people be told what they
are entitled to know, meets with
some degree of opposition on the
\ floor of the senate and from the
press representing administration.
Entitled to Know Treaty.
Fundamentally, we are entitled
TO know what the treaty is. The
I administration has already informed
us in part and if we are entitled to
know in part what the treaty is we
are entitled to know the whole. The
treaty was handed to the German
plenipotentiaries at Versailles Is
days ago. 1t was published in. Ger
many by the conquered people in
this war. 1t is now denied to the
American people, the victors in the
war. Upon what theory is it
denied?"
Senator Hitchcock, administration
spokeman, interrupted to deny that
the treaty has been published in
Germany. He declared that the
associated governments have refused
to allow it to be published any
where. Senator Walsh, democrat,
of Montana. added that the nations
which drafted the treaty had entered
into an agreement that it should be
. Kept secret until after Germany has
signed it.