Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-09

of friend In New York.
81 have never heard Of the treaty
being in the hands of financial inter
ests," Senator Lodge said. "I was
shown a copy of the treaty by friend.
I had some talk with him regarding
certain parts of it..
Lodge withholds Names
The senator said he also saw an
other friend who offered him q copy
of the text. but he declined saying he
would not accept copy he could not
make public. This friend, Senator
Lodge continued told him that he knew
four copies of the treaty were in New
York. The senator said neither Of
the men referred to had any connection
with financial interests so far as he
knew. He added that he made no in
quiry as to where they obtained copies
Of the treaty.
Replying to questions by Senator
Senator Lodge said he did
not think il ''woulc be honorable" for
him to disclose the name Of the men
who had copies Of the treaty. He ex-
planned that he regarded it as very i'm
portant that constituents should feel
they could transmit communica tions TO
their senator's without fear Of their
names being made public. He added that
he did not know il the persons to whom
he had talked in New York objected to
their names being made known.
Declaring that several newspapers
today had printed $4,000 words of what
to be part OF the treaty text.
Senator Brandegee said that except in
the Senate copies Of the document "are
as common in this country ms buckle
berries
Senator Hitchcock asked Senator
Lodge If. to aid the committee. he would
ask his intormants whether they would
permit their names to BE- used.
II can find out. think" said Sena-
tor Lodge.
Lodge Cross Questioned
Senator Lodge was asked il in the
event OF their refusal he could further
aid the committee in their indentifca
ton.
Certainly not. he replied. sharply.
my lips are sealed as far as they are
concerned regard that as a matter
of honor.
Senator Williams wanted to know
whether Mr.. Lodge could give the names
Of other who might be summoned.
mo" said Mr. Lodge. II have
heard nothing else other than the state
ment referred to by Senator Williams
that Mr.. Dawson brought some copies
with him and also that Mr.. Nanderlip
had them"
Mr.. Hitchcock asked whether the
witness could tell why the persons with
whom he talked had obtained copies.
II have no idea whatever. said Mr..
Lodge They had no business inter
est nj all as far as | know
1T might have been Of political
interest. suggested Senator Hitch e
cock. but Mr.. Lodge denied it.
Senator Knox, Republican. PennsyI-
vania. interrupted to declare that Mr..
Lodge had given all the information
possible and that what he withheld
was matter of highest senatorial
privilege and personal honor"
therefore any further effort to
locate his informants is hardly fair.
said Mr.. Knox.
Polk on Witness Stand
Mr.. Lodge was excused and Senator
McC'umber. who had been presiding
Welded the chair. Acting Secretary
Polk. the next witness, said he had
first received the text of the treaty by
cable and estimated it was about so per
cent complete.
II received one copy. by specia
courier. about May 49," Mr.. Poll
continued. Later | received ten copies
by special courier and since then 1
rackage of copies by pouch lmain.'
Mr.. Polk said he did not know how
many copies were in the mail. package
the seals were unbroken.
AN were placed in my safe and hello
IN subject to further orders, he said
Were your orders from the President
not to make the correspondence public"
asked senator Branuegee.
mo, my instructionss are usual!
signed Lansing. American mission.
Mr.. Polk replied. He added that nj
one except himself and his private secre
tary had access to his safe.
+ $50 you don't believe there is any
possibility that the copies which hav,
been shown were secured from the de
partment?" asked Senator Knox.
Positively no chance whatever.
Replying to Senator McCumber. Mr.
Polk said he had made no investigation
to determine whether any of the copie
were missing because he knew the.
were in the Senate and had heard of NJ
: charges Of existence of copies else
where until those made by Senator
! Lodge and Borah.
$50 the copies. il any are extant
must have come from the other side?'
asked Senator McCumber.
Undoubtedly. Mr.. Polk replied
Questioned by Senator johnson. Re
publican, of California. the witness sal
the official synopsis of the peace treat
was not handled by the State Depart
ment. except by printing after publ
cation. but was prepared in Paris an
made public at New York by the com
mittee on public information.
\ Mr. Polk was unable to say whrthe
the synopsis of the treaty accuratel
covered it's terms, as he had not made
careful comparison"
Can you give any reason why
correct and accurate synopsis should b