The Washington times., 1921-02-16
WILSON OK D
ALL. CREDITS
Approved Every Advance to For
eign Nations, Declares Treas
ury Aid at Hearing.
SECRETARYTO SHOW PAPERS
Promises to Produce Financial
Records Monday at Request
of Committee.

Secretary of the Treasury David
S. Houston today assured the Sen
ate Judiciary Committee he would
make no further advances of money
or extension Of credits to any for
eign government without first con-
sulting the committee.
A promise that he would promptly
notify the committee upon the re-
ceipt by the Treasury Department Of
any demand for further cash pay
ments or extension Of credits from
any foreign Governments was ex-
acted from Houston by Senator Reed,
Democrat, Of Missouri, a member Of
the committee.
WILLING TO COOPERATE.
Houston indicated his Willingness,
during the fewsAays remaining Of his
tenure of office. to cooperate with
the committee in every way in the
matter of foreign loans, credits or
other commitments.
He expressed a desire to be guided
bs..fhe judgment of the COMMITTEES in
plate with reference to "moral obli-
cations" totaling approximately
$37 100000 he held the United States
is still under to certain foreign gov
ernments.
Houston explained he had examined
yesterday for the first time docu-
ments and papers bearing on the f.
nancial transactions and negotiations
between the United States and for
eign governments.
ADJOURNs TO MONDAY.
The committee agreed to adjourn
until 1890 o'clock Monday to give
Houston further time to go into these
documents and papers, which he said
filled forty large drawers at the
Treasury Department.
"Will it be convenient for you to
appear before the committee on Mon
day morning." Senator Brandegee,
Republican, of Connecticut. inquired
of Houston. "The suit of William
| Randolph Hearst to restrain you from
making any more advances of money
| or extension of credits to foreign
governments comes up then"
THAT doesn't bother me-" Houston
replied. Il can be here Monday morn
| ing"
"If the Secretary of the Treasury
will say he will not pay out any more
| money to meet the obligations he
says we are under to certain foreign
governments. / will be satisfied"
! Senator Reed remarked.
| ~ do not know whether 1t will be
necessary or not for me to pay out
any more money for that purpose"
Houston replied. MY present i'm
preston is that I will not unless 1t
were absolutely necessary for me to
do So"
"would you not be willing to say
you would not, in difference to this
committee, representing, as 1t does.
the Senate of the United States?"
| Reed pursued.
MUST HAVE ALL FACTS.
"I cannot say until I have all the
facts which might be involved In the
matter before me-" Houston respond
| ed.
Suppose you found this committee
| was opposed to your paying out any
more money. would you feel impelled
to pay it out?" Senator Brandegee
| asked.
'I do not see how 1 can answer
| that. as it seems to me to be purely
speculative question:" Houston an
| swered.
"But IL the committee offered good
objection to your paying out any more
| money, would you not be influenced
by what 1t desired done in the mat
teri" Senator Hoke Smith, Democrat
OF Georgia, insisted
"The Treasury Department has no
disposition to pay out any more money
! to anybody" Houston answered. "1ts
attitude is to exercise the utmost care
in any case involving further cash
payments. Its attitude has been to
| exercise the most extreme care as to
! the law involved"
! "Will you assure us you will make
no further advances of money or
credits to any foreign government
until you have first consulted with
this committee and ascertained It's
wishes in the matter?" Reed persisted.
HOUSTON GIVES PLEDGE,
"I will" Houston replied.
! THAT is all want to know Reed
|, remarked.
"I thought the committee was only
| interested In the question Of advances
on commitments to certain foreign
governments we still have outstand-
ing" Houston said. "If the committee
| desires to go into the whole matter
of foreign loans, credits and its other
commitments, made before and since
the armistice, IL will be necessary for
me to have more time to examine all
the documents and papers bearing 81
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