The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-08-05
RUSSIA HELPED
WIN WORLD WAR
Davis Expected Nation to
Participate in DiStribu-
tion of Indemnity.

| Washington, Aug. 5.--Norman Davis
one OF the financial advisers of the
American peace delegation. told the
senate foreign relations committee to-
day that he reSared 1t as likely that
Russia would participate in the indem-
nifty to be paid by Germany in the
event that it organized a stable gov
| ernment
Russia made tremendous contri-
button toward winning the war" Mr..
Davis said, "and IT was the general
feeling that the door should not be
completely closed to her in the event
a stable government was organized"
Mr.. Davis testified that the real rea-
sons why the peace conference set no
definite reparation total for Germany
to pay were largely political"
Asked what he meant by political
reasons Mr.. Davis said:
THE people OF Europe are still suf-
fering from shell shock. They have
been carrying tremendos burdens and
have been led to assume Germany
would take over a large part of their
burdens. They even have been led to
believe they would receiv more than
Germany's bill would amont to-"
The witness thought 1t would take
about two years to reach a final agree
ment as to Gcrmany's total bill.
Amount Germany Should Pay
Mr.. Davis said the American dele
gates had fixed definite amount they
thought Germany should pay. but he
doubts the advisahility of saying pub
licly what that total was as the matter
must he subject of future negotiation.
He agreed to tell the committee .ater
in confidence.
In it's hearings on economic sections
of the Versailles treaty the senate for
eign relations committee got into a
sharp argument over the leaGe of ma
tions, during which Chairman Lodge
declared repeated attempts to secure
information o nthe league from Presi-
dent Wilson had been unavailing.
The president" said Senator Lodge,
has never offered to come before this
committee. He only sent telephone
message saying that he would be glad
to have the committee come to the
White House. We have called for
paper after paper but he has not sent
one"
Senator Fall republican. New Mex
leo, remarked that the committee did
see the president at the White House
on his first return from France, hut
had failed to secure from him any i'm
portant Information. Democratic mem
hers Of the committee replied and the
argument became so sharp that tho
chairman had to rap for order
The clash interrupted the testimony
OF Norman Davis an economic adviser
to the Versailles conference. regarding
the reparation clauses Of the treaty.
and was accepted by some senators as
a foretaste OF what Is to he expected
when Secretary Lansing appears berore
the committee tomorrow.
TINn Ill tt,1
staggering total Of between $500, TOO
100000 and $3.50 00n, 900 000 Norman
Davis. one Of the American economic
experts al the peace conference. testi-
fled before the senate foreign reln tions
committee today, when II resumed its
open hearings no the treaty of Ver-
sailles.
Davis said his estimate represented
'tual expenditures, not the tremen-
dous economic toll or the friChtful loss
Of human life and conflict cNacted
The worlds bonded Indebtedness ms
result Of the wear he estimated at $3.50,
000 000. COO.
Presidept Wilson has not only de-
cign relations committee but he has
thus far refused TO provide the COM
m;ttee with a single document or paper
bearing on the treaty Of Versailles. al
though repeatedly requested to do so,
Senator Lodge the chairman declared
today.
Senator Lodge made his statement
when Davis said that the President had
Offered TO appear before the committee
and that he considered the president
qualified as IN expert to pass on the
league OF nations.
Todav's session was characterized by
hot verbal exchanges between republic
can and democrats members OF the
committee.