The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-15
STENOGRAPHER
TO MAKE RECORD
Wilson Wants a Trustworthy
Report of What Is Said at
White House Tuesday.

Washington. Aug. 15.-Steno-
graphic records will be made of the
conference between President Wilson
and the senate foreign relations COM
mittee at the White House Tuesday
for discussion .of the peace treaty.
Chairman Lodge was so Informed in
letter from the president, made
public today.
The president said he would have
stenographer present in order that
the committee might have full and
Trustworthy record of what is said"
and suggested that the committee
also have a stenographer present. 1t
was understood that the official tran
script would be made public.
Responding to the committees de-
sire that no ban Of secrecy or con-
fidence be placed on the conference,
the president wrote Senator Lodge
that he was heartily in favor of let
ting the people Of the country know
everything that transpired. It was
considered unlikely that the public
would be admitted, but White House
officials and members of the COM
mittee declared they would go to
great lengths to have the details of
the conversation made known,
Tuesday Is Date. ..
Tuesday was set for the conference
by the president after Senator Lodge
had requested that no earlier date be
selected because of the absence of
some committee members from
Washington.
Today the committee was prepared
to make another effort to begin the
task Of considering amendments and
reservations to the treaty. This sub
Ject was to have been taken up yes
terday, but the entire session was
occupied with discussion Of the meet
ing with the president and the call
Ing of new witnesses. Five were sum-
moned and the committee hearings
probably will be reopened next week
after the White House conference.
The committee also desires more
information about the disposition to
be made of Germany's colonies, which
under the treaty terms she merely
turns over to the big five powers.
Yesterday, by direction of the COM
mittee. Chairman Lodge wrote the
president for enlightenment on the
oopJSNta koCihC SOillIllIIJt0
contend that as the treaty stands the
United States Is left with a one-f1fth
interest In all the German overseas
possessions.
Text Of Letter to Lodge.
The presidents letter to Senator
Lodge said:
Il have received your letter Of yester-
day, and in reply hasten to express the
hope that the senate committee on for
eign relations will give me the pleasure
OF seeing them at White House on
O'Clock.
Il also welcome the suggestion Of the
committee that nothing said at the con-
ference shall be regarded as confden-
tial. In order that the committee may
have a full and trustworthy record OF
what Is said. shall have a stenogra-
pher present and take the liberty of
suggesting that II you should wish to
bring one OF the committees stenogra-
piers with you, that would be entirely
agreeable to me. The presence of the
two stenographers would tighten the
work.
1T will be most agreeable to me to
have an opportunity to tell the commit
tee anything that may be Of service to
them in their consideration Of the trea-
ty."
The meeting will take place In the |
blue room of the White House and Il
was said the report of the conversations
would be taken in relays so that tran
scripts might be had Tor the press ev-
cry few minutes.
Lodge Recalls Invitation.
Senator Lodges letter to the presi- |
dent said: Soon after the treaty of |
Versailles had been laid before the |
senate. Senator Hitchcock informed the |
committee on foreign relations that IL |
the committee desired at any time to |
see you for the purpose of discussing |
the treaty, you would be glad to re- |
ceive them II you were given twenty |
tour hours notice. Taking advantage |
of this suggestion the committee this |
morning instructed me by vote to say |
10 you that they would be glad II they |
could meet you for the purpose OF ask |
ing certain information in regard to |
he treaty at such time and place as |
might be convenient to you. Owing to |
he necessary absence NJ ono or t,,.n /
senator's l take the liberty OF saying
hat 1t would be more convenient TO the .
committee II the appointment could be |
made for some day subsequent to Mon
lay next.
"It was the general desire OF the
committee that I should say to you
hat 1t was assumed that nothing said .
II the meeting would be considered |