Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-09
Senator Knox Explains.

1df aS ne Knew. ne 6Qucu thds no
made no inquiry as to where they oo-
tanned copies of the treaty.
!. Senator Knox Explains.
Senator Knox, republican, Pennsyl-
yania, told the committee that Sena-
tor Lodge had given all the informa-
tion possible and that what he with
held was a matter OF highest sena-
torfal privilege and personal honor
Therefore. any further enort TO
locate his informants is hardly fair"
said Mr.. Knox.
Mr.. Lodge was excused ana s Sehanor
yielded the chair. Acting secretary
Polk, the next witness, said ne had
first received the text OF the treaty
by cable and estimated II was ABOUT
II received one copy by special cou-
rier about May 49, Mr.. POLK con-
tinued. Later 1 received ten copies
by special courier and since then
package of copies by pouch tmaiD.
Mr.. Polk said he did not know now
many copies were in the mail pack
age. the seals being unbroken.
IAN were placed in my safe ana
held up subject to further ORDERS ne
said.
were your orders from the Presi-
dent not to make the correspondence
pubIic?" asked Senator Brandegee.
mo. NV instructions are usually
signed Lansing, American mission
MT Polk replied. He added that no
one except himself and hts private
secretary had access to his safe.
so, you don't believe there Is any
possibility that the copies which have
been shown were secured from the
DEPARTMENT." asked Senator Knox.
Mr.. Polk was unable to say whether
the synopsis of the treaty accurately
covered it's terms. as he had not made
a careful comparison.
Can YOU give any reason why
correct and accurate synopsis should
be given out while the text itself IS
withheld?" asked Senator Johnson.
Il am not prepared to answer that.
replied Mr.. Polk. II do not know.
The Secretary added that 1t was ms
impression that the same synopsis
was given out in all the interested
countries by agreement.
Replying to Senator Knox, Mr..
Polk said he had no knowledge
whether the league of nations cove
nant was a completed document or
subject to revision, but that he be-
lieved the committee of the peace con-
ference having to do with the league
had completed it's work and been dis
charged.
President Urges Investigation.
Before the Senate voted on Senator
Borah's motion to print the treaty in the
Record a cablegram was submitted by
Senator Hitchcock, ranking democratic
member of the Senate foreign relations
committee. from President Wilson, in
which the President said that he did not
consider himself at liberty to make pub
lie the text of the treaty with Germany
since 1t has been agreed by the powers
negotiating the treaty that 1T should
not be made public.
/
copies of the treaty had reached per-
sons in New York they had improp-
erly done so. He urged a drastic in
vestigation of the matter.
Senator Williams of Mississippi de-
nounced the action of the Senate in
voting to publish copy of the treaty
in the Record as a piece of bad faith
on the part of a part of one of the
branches of the United States govern
ment.
Many senators later wanted to ex-
plain their votes, and debate on the
Record resulted. Senator Underwood.
democrat, Alabama, declared there
was no evidence that the copy pre-
scented was an official one. and said:
country with the sanction of the
United States Senate, it may cause
great harm"
Would Be Mistake, Senators Say.
Senators Hitchcock Of Nebraska,
Williams of Mississippi and Swanson
Of Virginia, democratic members Of
the foreign relations committee. de-
clared the printing of the document
would be mistake.
1T is beneath the dignity of the
Senate" said Senator Hitchcock, x"to
cooperate with the German govern
ment in throwing a monkey wrench
into the peace machinery.
ut is known that this treaty first
was made public in Germany. The
German government did it for a pur-
pose-to get better terms And the
majority here is cooperating with the
German government by it's action to-
day"
Senator Fletcher, democrat, of Flor
ida. said that conceding Mr.. Borah's
copy was not stolen, 1T must have
been secured with the knowledge
that it was not to be made public.
Declares Copy Not Official.
Senator Fall replied that Mr.. Borah's
copy is not official and is printed in
English and French. If not correct,
Senator Fall said the State Depart
ment can furnish corrections.
During the debate many senators
went to Senator Borahs desk and
with evident interest examined the
copy's pages.
Senator Pittman, democrat, Nevada.
charged that senators of the foreign
relations committee had violated an
understanding reached today by the
committee. Mr.. Pittman said that in
beginning the investigation, discuss
ing subpoenas of persons and papers,
the committee had agreed that 1t
should not make public any copy of
the treaty secured in it's inquiry until
after such copy should be examined
as to its authenticity.
The senator from Idaho gave notice
that the committee could not bind
him by any such action" Senator Bo-
rah interjected.
Such notice. Senator Pittman re-
piled. was given only by Senator
Borah. while other members of the
committee voted to print the Borah
copy despite the committees UNDER
standing made only two hours before.
Mr.. Pittman asked whether Mr.. Borah
was afraid" IL he had submitted his
copy to the committee, that it would
not be found authentic.
The committee adjourned without
fixing a date for the next meeting
The investigation will be made by
the full committee and Chairman
Lodge is expected to call another
meeting as soon as any of those sub
poenaed today are ready to appear.