New-York tribune., 1919-06-10
Morgan, Schif and
Vanderlip Among
Financiers Called
to Give Testimony
Senator BOrah
Suggests g Names
Asserts Bankers
Have Been Sup-
porting g Pact for
Private Reasons
NoW York Tribune
Wd2hinntOn Rnrenu

NeiO York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 9.-Investiga-
terests" in New York had copies of the
peace treaty, denied to the Senate and
the American people, was begun by
the Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee to-day. At the conclusion of the
meeting subpenas were issued for six
New York bankers: Jacob Schiff,
Thomas w. Lamont, Henry P. Davi-
sen, j. P. Morgan, Paul M. Warburc
and Frank A. Vanderlip.
The committee to-day heard Senator
Locge, who told the Senate the other
day he had read one copy of the treaty
IN New York, had seen another and
had heard of four other copies. Mr.
Ledge refused to give the names of
his friends who had the copies, but
agreed to ask permission Of these
men to give their names.
Senator Borah, whose language about
the Wall Street interests which had the
treaty has been more spectacular than
that Of Senator Lodge, suggested ths
summoning Of all the men subpenaed
except Mr.. Vanderlip, whose name was
suggested by Senator John Sharp
Williams, of Mississippi
Reads Wilson'S Endorsement
Senator Hitchcock read the commit
tee the cable he had received from the
President through Secretary Tumulty.
lndorslng the investigation but deplor-
ing any official publicity for the treaty.
Senator Fall urged that Acting Sec
retary of State Polk be invited to an
pear as early as possible. Senator
Williams said that the President is
the head of the diplomatic department,
but Senator Knox pointed out that as
the acting Secretary of State has been
the custodian of the treaty here, the
leak" may have occurred from his de-
partment.
Senator Hitchcock then asked that
Senator Borah be given permission to
make statement Mr.. Borah read
parts of his speeches on the leak, and
added:
ION March last l began an in
vestigation to find out what interest
IN or connection with the league of
nations the great international bankers
OF New York had. l learned that thew
were all deeply interested in the league
and were working for it's adoption in
this country. They were assisting, I
found, in various ways, by contribu
ton and public speeches and opinions
in the public press.
Private Reasons for Support
II became convinced they were sup
porting the league not through an
ultra patriotic motive, but for private
reasons. I do not intend to give the
source of my information, which came
to me in various ways. but am per
fectly willing to give the committee
the results of my investigation"
II think that by questioning these
gentlemen" said Mr.. Borah, "the COM
mittee will learn first that their in
terest in the league has been constant
and active, and second, that they have
had copies of the treaty for the last
ten days. There will be no difficulty
about establishing the fact Of their
possession of the treaty. The difficulty
will come in showing their interest in
it. But want to lay foundation for
developing that"
mittee making any effort to secure a
copy of the treaty by forcing one of
the witnesses called to produce it. He
said that he did not want copy to
come to the Senate Through the
kitchen window"
Copies Common in Europe
Senator Brandegee of Connecticut
reminded Senator Hitchcock that he
had made the charge that whoever
had copy of the treaty had obtained
it by bribery and was the receiver of
stolen goods, and demanded that this
charge be proven or withdrawn. He
added that copies of the treaty were
as common and numerous as blackber-
ries in some European countries,
notably Germany itself.
Mr.. Polk, called as witness, was
asked if he had copy of the treaty.
II got one by courier on May 49,"
said Mr.. Polk. Later, l got ten more
copies by courier; after that, one or
two more. They are all in two safes in
the department, and no one has seen
them except my assistant and myself.
They have not been out of the office.
They were sealed before being put in
the safes."
"Were your orders not to make them
public, orders from the peace confer
ence?" asked Senator Brandegee.
Il was instructed by the peace con-
ference to hold them pending further
Instructions" said Mr.. Polk. He said