Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-06-04
HUN PEACE
I IN
HANDS OF
INTERESTS
Treaty Given Out by American
Representatives at Paris
Senator Says, But With
held From Senate.

Washington, June 3.-Senator
Lodge chairman of the senate for
eign relations committee, told the
senate today he had seen in the
hands of business interests in New
York copy of the treaty with Ger
mary, given out by an American
representative at Paris, but with
held by the State department from
the senate.
The statement caused a sharp de-
bate upon the course of President
Wilson and the State department re-
garding publication of the treaty
text.
The treaty is in New York." said
Senator Lodge. Il saw a copy of it
yesterday. | was offered copy but
| refused to accept it saying it could
not come into my hands without be-
ing published. | heard of four copies
i'll New York How many more
there may be throughout the coun-
try | do not know. As far as | can
make out the only place it is not
allowed to come is the senate of the
United States"
Asks Origin of Copy.
Senator Swanson of Virginia, a
democratic member of the foreign
relations committee, inquired wheth-
er the Massachusetts, senator could
tell where the copy he saw came
from
COPIES were given out in Paris"
replied Senator Lodge. They found
that some o-them were coming to
this country and it was stopped" I
by whom were they given out?"
asked Senator Swanson.
BY our representative there"
What representatives?
81 presume by some of the presi-
dents followers"
The first suggestion that the
treaty text was available in New
York was made by Senator Borah,
republican, of Idaho, when a request
was made by Senator Johnson, re-
publican, of California, that his reso-
luton asking the State department
for the text be allowed to go over
until the woman suffrage amend
ment was disposed of by the senate
Senator Swanson asked the au-
thority for this statement, and il
was then that Senator Lodge an
nounced he had seen the treaty
Senator Swanson said an Associated
Press dispatch had stated President
Wilson had agreed not to make the
treaty public at present. and argued
that the Johnson resolution would
amount to a request that the presi-
dent break his word. Public a.
rtaction abroad, he said, was due
probably to the fact that some one
else had broken faith.
Wants Resolution Referred Back.
Senator Swanson urged that the
resolution be referred to the foreign
relations committee Senator Lodge
said neither the British nor the
French parliaments had been given
official copies.
Because Germany broke faith is
no reason for the senate to ask the
president to break faith" said Mr.
Swanson.
Regardless of any agreement, I
assume that when the president
learns the New York interests have
it in their possession the president
will no longer feel under any obliga-
ton to keep faith" Senator Boral,
interrupted.
Does Not Want Investigation.
Senator Swanson suggested that
the committee investigate.
Il don't want any investigation"
said Senator Borah. Il want the
president to know that those people
in New York are using it in SENT
public. way for their private informa-
ton.
IF the president made an agree
ment not to give it out, there is no
reason now why the president
shouldn't advise us of that fact, if
it is fact. If it is true that copies
have gone into the hands of special
interests, l think the president
would feel relieved of his agreemen:
and give US the treaty"