New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-01
Hitchcock, Essaying Denial,
Admits Wilson Called elm
ternal Question Taboo
Japan Loses Peace Issue
Senator Brands as False
Interviews ON Dinner At
tributed to Colleagues
Nc,c York Tribune
Wdshiugtou Bureau


question and Japanese immigration
were hurled bodily into the midst of
the Senate's deliberations on the league
of nations to-day.
In an impassoned attack on "The
New York SUM-" Senator Hitchcock, Of
Nebraska. chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee. denied cate
Gorically a statement made in that
paper that President Wilson had told
his guests at the White House dinner
Wednesday night that "Ircland is to
be left to the mercies of England"
In denying also that Japanese i'm
migration into the United States, I'M
der the league plans. would have to
be left to the league, Senator
Hitchcock informed the Senate that
Japan had vainly tried to get the Paris
conference committee to "A declaration
IN behalf of race equality which would
have protected the Japanese from dis
criminatory treatment in the American
immigration laws.
"The mighty effort that Japan made
in Paris to secure a declaration OF the
conference that race equality should
he recognized and that no diacrimina-
ton should hc made because OF race"
declared Senator Hitchcock. twas
voted down unanimously by all mem
bers Of the league. When Japan fail
cd In that she lost tho last shred Of
hope of bringing tho immigration
~, H.. ,,&, !
league"
Denial Made On Ireland
The White House manifested equal
concern over the injection of the Irish
question into the league discussion,
and n flat denial was authorized by the
President that he had made any state
ment tc the Senators indicating that
Ireland had been left to shift for
herself Secretary Tumulty authorized
the following statement:
"In the last few days the follow
ing quotation has appeared in the
press under q Washington date line
as part CT the newspaper report of
tho dinner given by the Ere sident at
the White House Wednesday, Febru-
airy 26, % the members Of the Com
mttee of Foreign Relations of the
Senate. and the Committee on For
eign Affairs Of the House:
1.-the President told the commit
tees that the Irish question was
matter between Ireland and Eng
land, and that Ireland would not have
any voice in the peace conference at
present.
"The President wishes me to say
that this statement has no founda-
tion in fact, and Is deliberate false
hood"
Senator Hitchcock first denied fatty
that the Irish question was mentioned
at all at the White House conference
except in jocose fashion, but prompted
by Senator John Sharp Williams, of
Mississippi, who was also present at
the dinner, he declared that the Presi-
dent replied to a question on the sub
lect by the general statement that
internal and domestic ouestionsn
were not concctn Of the league.
crowded galleries. which had as
srmbled TO hear Senator Lodges speech
on the league of natione. listened after
ward with intchso interest to the dia-
cioeurvr which the Nebraska Senator
made concerning tho dinner. Statements
attributed the New York "Sun" nr,is
ele by hame TO various Republican Sen
alets who attended the dinner Senator
h',eheoek voluntarily undertook to re.
rndata IA their behalf ncfotc any Of
10 the oortoctneae of tho quotationa
however, the "metning hour" was con
rluded aud the Senate proceeded with
the consideration of regular buaneas
senator Hitchcock obtained reeog-
hNioh immediately upon the conclu-
aion Of the Lodge Hpeoch He said,
y rise particularly for the pufpos 40
OF referring to what appears TO me
scahdalohs article IN one Of tho
great papets this morning Dcrore
take IT up, however, and while the
idea Ia fresh IN my mind, and before
" gotta out OF the minds Of those pses4
ent. deaite 60 febudiate the Autsl.e
'ien of the Senator from MaaAaehu-
aetts that thia league viii Ia tho
hhghtest degree limit tho privilege
ana the duty of any nationwide Unit
ed states or any thoerto defend 1t
self when attacked to protect its ter
fitefy and protect its rights when in
Vaded, either by member OF the
league or one not member of the
league. THAT suggestion struck me az
so preposterous that | cannot allow it
TO remain in the minds of any one as
possibility"
Lodge Demands Clarity
Lodge-lt may have struck the Sen
htor from Nebraska as preposterous
but there are other minds. He takes
one view, honestly, | am sure, and
take another, honestly. | am sure. Let
US have it stated in the instrument
what il does mean
What | arose particularly TO take
up" said Senator Hitchcock, "is an
article IN the New York morning Sun.
which specifically mentions the names
OF number of Senator's now present
most Of whom attended the conference
and dinner at the White House as
guests Of the President on nigh. be-
fore last Let me read part Of the
article:
"'At midnight last night and early
this morning Senator'S and Repre-
sentatiges who had laborcd to pene-
trate Mr. Wilson's mind and to
understand his policies were them
selves 30 weary and mind muddled
that they wers unable TO discuss CO.
hercntly what had taken place. This
afternoon when they had an opportu-
nifty TO get together and compare
notes and TO check up one another's
recollect'ons they were able to pre-
sent clear account Of the conversa-