The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-04
SECRET COPIES
OF TREATY HERE
BOrah Says Four Private New
Workers Possess Compact
Denied to Senate.
LODGE HELD ONE IN HAND
Senator's Stirred by Leak in
Officialdom-Labor Clause
Is Cause for Worry.
Special Despatch to THE sux.

Special Despatch TO THE SuN.
WAsfIINoroN. June 3-CopIes Of the
peace treaty with Germany have been
sent to private individuals concerned
in big business enterprises In this
country for their consideration, al
though the document Is still
denied to the Senate and is presumed
to be withheld from publication here
under an agreement of President Will
son, Premier Lloyd George and Premier
Clemenoeau. This charge, absolutely
unqualified. was made on the tioor OF
the Senate to-day.
Il have held a copy OF the treaty
in my hand" said Senator Lodge
(Mass.) the Republican leader,
who had said moment ear
lier that he knew copies OF It had
beeen, transmitted to some persons in
this country. II refused to make use
Of it because any copy Of the treaty
| that comes to me must come through
| public channels for publication"
The charge that favored persons
were enjoying access to copies Of the
| treaty transmitted to this side by
authority of the American represen-
tatives in Paris was first made by SEN
ator Borah Idaho). Sharp exchanges
took place between the Republican
and Democratic sides Of the chamber,
in which Senator Swanson (Va)
! acted as Democratic spokesman in the
absence of Senator Hitchcock (NebD,
leading Democrat on the Foreign l,e-
lations Committee.
/ Johnston starts Argument.
! Under unfinished business Senator
johnson (Cal) asked that his resolution
calling on the State Department to
transmit the treaty to the Senate be
temporarily laid aside so that considera-
tion OF the suffrage resolution might
continue uninterruptedly.
This afforded opportunity for Senator
Borah, who, without objection TO Mr.,
Johnson's suggestion. said he under
stood that copies OF the treaty we're in
the hands OF certain persons In New
| York and Indicated the opinion that that
fact might reasonably have bearing on
the Senates attitude toward the John
son resolution. He had information on
the matter which he could not question
and regarded II as at least remarkable
that New Workers. were permitted the
private perusal of document of such
character while II was denied to the
Senate and the public.
Senator Swanson protested that such
reports ought not to move the Senate
from compliance with the agreement
that had been reported from Paris tina,
the treaty should not be made public for
the present. He had no doubt that this
agreement reported by the Associated
Press and by various newspaper CORE
spondents, had been entered into for
good and ample reasons which should be
satisfactory to the Senate. He re-
iterated the view repeatedly expressed
by Democratic Senators that this reso'
luton ought to go to the Foreign Rela'
tions Committee.
Senator Lodge protested against the
assumption that there could be impro.
priety in asking for the treaty. A syn,
opsis had been published which was
claimed substantially to present its en-
tire contents.
More Copies in New York.
Il have seen copy of the treaty ant
have held it in my hand" he said. anC
proceeded with the explanation OF hi
refusal to examine 1t in confidence. Ther
he added:
II was tcld where there are fou
other copies OF the treaty in New York
I don't know how many others ther,
may be there. Apparently the onl.
place where copies OF II are not per
I mitted is the Senate"
but the question is," protested Sena
Continued on Fourth Page.