The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-07
u. S. BOUND TO FOREIGN
STRIFE, ASSERTS REED
Tells Of Promise Made Be-
fore Paris Conference.

KANSAS CITY, Oct. 6.--Senator James
A. Reed (Mo.), in a telegram late to-
day to United States Senator Spencer
(Mo-). asserted that President Wilson
had made a statement pledging Ameri-
can military aid to Rumania and
Serbia, in an address at the Peace
Conferen ce ON May 81. 1919.
The text of the address did not pass
the censor until December 3, 1913.
when 1t was brought to this country
by a newspaper correspondent and
published in the Washington Star on
that date. The slseech also appeared
in full in the Congressional Record on
December A. 1919. tine telegram added.
Senator Reeds telegram was sent in
Response to one from Senator Spencer
asking information on the subject and
urged the President to produce the
stenographic records of the Peace
Conference ito show Just what was
said"
Demands stenographic Record.
Senator Reeds telegram declared the
Presidents statement also was copy
righted by a newspaper syndicate ana
given wide circulation.
ION several occasions I challenged the
attention of the Senate TO this speech,
the telegram continued. MY speeches.
by scores of thousands were circulated
through the country Numerous pup
licists and speakers have repeatedly re-
ferred to and commented upon thls
declaration of the President Its au-
thenticity was never disputed on the
floor of the Senate or elsewhere 10 my
knowledge until Mr. TuInulty recently
denounced it as false. The speech bears
upon it's face evidence OF it's authenticity
as it is couched; in the well known
phraseology of the President.
"In view of the facts a discerning
public will not be inclined to accept Mr..
Tumulty's denial. There Is one way
this dispute can be settled. Let the
President produce the stenographic
records of the peace conference. show
ing just what was said. These official
reports have been studiously suppressed
and kept secret, although the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee asked ex-
pressly for them. 1t was stated by Gle
menceaus private secretary that the
reasons why the sessions were held IN
secret was. because the President OF the
United States insisted upon IL as against
Clemenceau's own Judgment.
THAT the latter statement is absolute
~ correct il shown by the testimony OF
Secretary Lansing, given before the
Foreign Relations Committee of the
Senate August 8. 1919. Gee part 6. Printed
Hearings. page 145."
Following despatch of the telegram 10
Senator Spencer. Senator Reed gave our
a statement in which he said:
What new do we understand? That
President Wilson now means we are not
TO be under obligations to send our
armies to protect Rumania and other
members OF the league against attack?
eff so, what becomes of Article X.
which he declares is the heart of the
covenantT'
Covenant Says Same Thing.
AFTER ALL" Senator Reed continued
this controversy is immateriaL Ar
ticle X. of the League of Nations ex-
plicitly provides that we undertake to
preserve against external aggression
the territorial integrity and indepen-
dence of other members of the league.
That means we join the league. there
fore, to defend Rumania and Serbia
against attack and preserve their ex-
listing pOl1C1cal Independence. lHdt Oo-
legation may at any time call upon US
to send our armies and navies across
the ocean. This is just what the Presi-
dent in his speech is alleged to have
promised. The statements are as alike
as two eggs laid by the same chicken.
Besides that. the President demanded
Mt a time when he rega fded our en-
trance into the league as certain a
standing army of $4,000 men. universal
draft for all boys as soon as they ar
rived at the age of Is, enactment of
laws to enable the President to apply
the draft to all persons between IS and
as years whenever the United States
should be engaged in war, 100000 sail
ors and marines for the navy. and an
appropriation of s913.000,000 to build
the greatest fleet of war vessels ever
attempted at one time.
'The Presidents Secretary of War,
Mr.. Baker, and Chief Of Staff Cen
March, both testified before Congress
sional committees that this immense
military establishment was necessary to
redeem our obligations"