The Washington times., 1920-02-22
,SC0RESECRET
SHIP TREATY
Senators Doubtful II Lloyd
George Agreement With Presi-
dent Will Be Ratified.

The admission by President Will
son that he did make an agreement
with Lloyd George to turn over to
the Reparations Commission enemy
ships seized by the United States has
aroused storm of resentment
among members Of the Senate SINH
lar to that created by the proposed
sale of the ex-Germsn ships.
It is doubtful if the. agreement
made between the President and the
British premier will receive the
sanction Of Congress.
Will Not Approve II.
According to its terms, the United
States will either have to sell the
ships and turn the proceeds over 10
the Reparatlons Commission, or. II
the ships are held, Congress will
have to appropriate sum OF money
equal to that which the Reparstfons
Commission. under the terms OF the
agreement. decides TO be the share
due from the United States.
Senator Lenroot OF Wisconsin voiced
the sentiments of many Of his col
leagues by declaring that Congress
will refuse to approve OF such an
agreement. He holds that II 10 con-
trary to all the international usages
in time of war.
Tho secret agreement was revealed
to the Senate by the letter sent by
tho President in response to the re-
solution Of Senator Brandegee passed
a week ago, demanding all the infor-
nation regarding the Presidents deal
with Lloyd George for the DISPOSE
ton Of the ships. .- .. -
Brandegee Letter.
Senator Brsndegee addressed the
Senate on the Presidents letter at
the beginning of yesterdays session.
He said he desired to compliment the
President for giving the Senate the
text of the agreement after having
denied in his letter that such an
agreement existed. The Senator said:
II am glad that the-President saw
iii to submit this agreement to the
Senate. When 1 introduced my reso-
luton / was unable to give an accu
rate description of the agreement. and
the President might very easily have
dubbed about 1t and said there was
no such agreement, II he had been SO
disposed. But he has not done that.
tie has given us the terms of the
agreement he made with Lloyd George
,or, the disposition of these German
.hips. ~
The Presidents statement confirms
every bit. OF Information I had when I
introduced my resolution on the sub
icct of the secret agreement. There
vas an agreement that the price of
some of the German ships should be
paid over to the reparations commits
sfon. l am glad, therefore, that the
President has given it to US, whether
It provides for the direct disposition
"f' those ships or not; in my opinion
IT does. q
= CritieiEes Agreement.
III the President had simply said
there is no such agreement, should
not have thought IL. a very frank
:,tatement in view Of the foifth clause
in the memorandum signed by him
self and Lloyd George relating to the
ship.f But.the Senate asked for the
status Of those ships. and he promptly
scutfit to US. ~. To-. ~
Whether the ships, are sold or not
1t would. make some. d difference, to us,
because IL there should be balance
left after the ships are disposed of
we shall have to pay it into the pa
ration fund according to this private
agreement. II the ships are not sold,
we shall have to make an appropria-
ton for an equal amount il this agree
ment lis to be adhered to-
Senator Brandegee said he could
not understand why the President
stated that he had intended to with
hold the Information from the Senate,
untifAfter the peace treaty had been
ratified He said he saw no relation
whatever between the treaty and the
agreement for the disposition Of the
ships, and. added that the ratifica-;
ton OF the treaty might be a long
way off, and in the meantime the
senate: was entitled to know. whether
any agreement regarding. the ships
had been, made. '"'Nr.:', .. =.
CenAHent Of Senator.
The Senator said: "Why., should we
would II be more appropriate to give
it to us after the treaty is ratified, IL
that time ever comes? 1 do not I'M
dcrstand the full purpose, of this
agreemcnt, and perhaps none OF us
ever will; but fail to see why the
President, made the. agreement only
with Lloyd George.
don't see. what It has to do with
the treaty since none Of the other
peace .plenipotentaries signed IL. 1t
seems to be, sort of supplemental
agreement the President made after
the treaty was agreed to-" = .. ...
Senator Jones, of Washington,
chairman Of the Commerce Committee,
reported the bill introduced by him
audi approved by his committee to
prohibit the sale of Che ships and
provide for the 'reconditioning by the
chipping Board.
He said he had intended to ask
unanimous consent for the immedia te
"a IF ho k,,t L.