New-York tribune., 1919-08-31
General Refuses to APP
pear Before Investiga-
tors, Saying Records
Are Being Sent to U. S.
Hearing to Go On,
Committee States
Mr.. Bland Says Re-
fusal Is More Evidence
of War Dept. Autocracy

PARIS, AUX. ON.---dSIltlai OOHIi
Pershing, commander in chief of the
American ENpedi.ionary Force, has re-
fused to testify before the subcommit-
tee OF three OF the Congress sional Com
mittee on Expenditures by the War De-
partment which has been conducting an
Investigation in France.
The generals refusal led to the is
suance of joint statement by Repre-
sentatives Royal c. Johnson and Oscar
Z. Bland, of the committee, in
which regret was expressed that there
should be a conflict between the mill
.ary and civil authorities of the govern
ment.
In a separate statement, in which
Representative Johnson did not join,
Mr.. Bland declared the generals action
and contempt" shown during the entire
war by the ar Department toward the
wishes OF the people and their repre-
sentatlves.
Records Not Available
General Pershing, on being shown
this statement said that all the activi-
ties OF the American Expeditonary
Force were open to investigation, but
that he found it impossible on the last
day of his stay q France to comply
with the request of the committee, as
all his records had been shipped to the
United States
Although General Pershins said he
had no further comment to make upon
the incident, it was learned at his
headquarters that all documents Of the
general staff were shipped to Brest
Angus % and were on the transport
Levathan before the general received
notice he was expected to appear be-
fore the committee.
1t was said that the first notice of
the visit OF the committee was received
at headquarters Thursday, when the
packing cases filed with papers and
books in all the Railways and the STAFF
reduced to those Immediately con-
nected with the Office Of the COM
mander in chief. who are leaving with
General Pershing by special train to-
morrow
JOINT Statement Issued
The t.x. Of the joint statement
reads
Subcommittee No Of the COM
mlttee on Expenditures in the War
Department was requested by men,
bers Of the Senate and House and
members of the full committee to
have General Pershing testify on
number of important matters which
the committee came here to investi-
gate, among which we're the fixing
Of responsibility for the mistreat-
ment of American soldiers in prison
in France, his views on court mar
tial laws and regulations pertaining
thereto, regulations with reference,
to the burial of American dead, and
certain military operations. particu-
larly on November 10 and II, 1918.
"An outline of the early organiza-
ton Of the American Expeditionary
Force for the expenditure of funds
and the payment of claims also was
desired
I've regarded it as important that
the highest officer Of the American
t.xpeditionary Force give US the
benefit of his intimate knowledge Of
all these affairs. Technically, the
American Congress may have no in
quisitorial jurisdiction over Amer
ican citizens when outside the
United States, but we know no prece-
dent for the refusal of an American
citizen to recognize that jurisdic-
tion.
General Pershing declined to tes-
ufy on the ground that the records
were not available. He was in
formed that most of the questions to
be propounded would not require
data. lie then declined to appear
before the committee and testify.
he Will later be called to appear be-
lore the committee in the United
States
The subcommittee has already
examined the Secretary Of War and
'he chief of staff concerning some
OF the matters referred to, but was
Told that the information was in
France.
Conflict Is Regretted
1t is regrettable that there should
De even the appearance of conflict
between the military and civil au-
'horltles at a time when the world
should become normal and be gov
efned, not by armies or individuals,
but by law"
Will Get Along, Says Bland
representative Bland's statement
reads:
r. All care to say personally about
Seheral Pershing's refusal to testify
oefore the Congressional commit
.ee--and speak for myself alone
- that ne and his army are bigger
snan our deputy sergeant alarms of
,ne House of Representatives, and
;", ne, OF course, can avoid giving us the
information we desire. I think it is
apparent that the War Department
.as during the entire war shown its
sodinerence and contempt for the
"'shes Of the people and their rep
1esentatives, and this is only clear
eat' concrete example of that senti-
nient.
FOR the time being we will try to
&c. ., along in our Investigations here
".'nout General Pershing's aid"
ambassador Wallace tonight gave a
cn c,'.er .e In honor Of President Poincare
dssne ds .ne occasion Of General Pershing' s
Sarture for the United States.
ueheral Pershing will leave Paris for
Ia,,;ss Iv:s sunday evening, sailing on the
Ss'athan September /.
Ma~