New-York tribune., 1920-03-11
Colby's Record
In War Traced
By Senators
Gen. Churchill Questioned,
But Committee Members
Assert No Rich Scandal
Is Likely ito Develop
By Carter Field

Front The Trfbune'9 Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 1O.-The SEN
ate Foreign Relations Committee to-
day had Brigadier General Marlborough
Churchill before it in connection with
the nomination of Bainbridge Colby as
Secretary of State to succeed Robert
Lansing. General Churchill was in
charge Of the military intelligence
during the war
The appearance of the general, ac-
companied by his aids carrying u
huge array Of documents and records,
created a profound surprise among
those who saw them walking along
the Capitol corridors.
For some time there was speculation
as to whether the general was testify
ing on the nomination of Mr.. Colby, or
of Charles R. Crane, as Minister to
China, or on Governor Hunt of Ari-
zona, with most of the guessers favor
ing the latter because of the charges
of friendship for I. W. W. agitators
made against Mr.. Hunt.
Refuse to Give Details
Senators on the committee admitted
afterward that General Churchill was
before the committee on the nomina-
tion of Mr.. Colby, but absolutely de-
clined to discuss the details of Gen
eral Churchills testimony or the char
acter of the documents he brought to
the committee room.
Committee members told their COL
leagues after the hearing not to assume
that Mr.. Colby would be rejected, nor
that any rich scandal" was to be ex-
ploded. On the contrary, most of the
committee members seemed to think
that Mr.. Colby would be confirmed
at is not question of any direct
charges having been filed against Mr.
Colby" said one member of the COM
mittee. "lt is question of seeking to
ascertain whether Mr.. Colby was linked
up in any way with some of the activi-
ties investigated by the military intel
lgence."
Alter General Churchill's testimony
the committee decided to summon a
list of additional witnesses, including
other officers of the military inteli-
gence who during the war were en-
gagged in investigating. Most of the
committee members seemed of the
opinion that no case had been made
against Mr.. Colby so far, and that
probably none would be made.
Many Letters Received
A great many letters have been re-
celveu by Senators demanding that Mr.
COlby's record on this or that point be
Investigated, but almost invariably,
Several Senators said tonight, the let
ter writer's, while giving their names
and vouching for their accusations.
were unwilling to come before the com
mittee and testify.
They have taken the stand generally
that the information was in the hands
OF governmental agencies and that the
Senate committee could require it's
production
II think Mr.. Colby will be confirmed,
but that he will be in very embar-
RAISING position" said one member of
the committee.
Members of the committee denied
hatiy that the questions on which Gen.
eral Churchill testified had anything to
do with pro- Germanism, with shipping
contracts or with Bolshevism. These
three subjects, together with the trad
ing with the enemy act and half
dozen other questions, were all men
toned in the flock of rumors which
went round the Capitol, inspired by
the presence OF the head Of the army
secret service in connection with the
nominee for Secretary of State.
Seldoms has anything before a SEN
ate committee been more successfully
guarded than what happened in the
Colby hearing to-day Members of the
committee declined in some instances
even to tell their colleagues what the
incident or incidents were on which
General Churchill was questioned and
in which it was suspected Mr.. Colby
might be involved.