New-York tribune., 1921-06-01

Is not scintilla of fact upon which
any eslticism could be based IN refer.
ence either 70 the copper matter or tie
item of the allowance of s15o,oo0
Disclaima All Interest in Copper
Regarding the first, | have had no
interest whatsoever in copper since
the beginning of the war With Ger.
many. Furthermore, the fixing OF the
nrice Of copper and my relations to
this matter, have been very much mis-
understood and purposely lied about
1t is true that | arranged the purchase
of copper by the government for all
the then known needs at 16 2-S cents a
pound, which was less than half the
existing market price. Thereafter,
when we entered the war. the price Of
COPPER was fixed by the War Industrial
board of the Council of National Dc
tense. of which l was only one mem
Der of seven.
81 became chairman of the Var In
dnstries Board when it was created as
q separate organization by order Of
the President. March 4. 1918. but as
chairman of the board did not have
the right to fix prices and was ex-
picltiy restricted from so doing. The
price Of copper and every other article
was fixed by committee consisting of
appointees of the President.
"As far as the S15o,00o is concerned,
that was the sum allotted to the eco
nomlc section of the peace conference,
which work was directly under my
charge. ! had the right tc use that
entire sum. but only drew and spent
less than $4,000 In connection with
tins | am very proud to say that it
happens that the economic sections of
the treaty are the only parts of the
treaty to which | have heard no objec-
tions made and concerning which I
have heard no criticism. On the con-
trary, 1t appears that these sections
are generally approved, and opinion is
strong in declaring they must be re-
tanned for the benefit and protection
OF American industry and business.
"All | drew against the $15O000 al
lotment was $4,000. which was con-
verted into francs and deposited at
interest in the Paris branch of the
Equitable Trust Company of New
York. Through the addition of inter
est ard refundment this amount was
increased by S3S0.34. The expendi-
lures from this account from February
IA, 1919, to June 80, 1919. total s24,-
The balance of this working fund
OF S1,251.70, reduced by S161.13 loss in
exchange in converting this balance
from francs into dollars, $1.09o. 81,
was deposited on August 27. 1919, with
the department of State, together with
the final accounting for this allotment.
And Of the money that was ex
pended | did not receive one cent on
account of living expenses, travelling
expenses, ices, or for any other pur-
pose from this or any other fund. No
rhot
payment of my personal or official ex-
penses. Furthermore, the United
States government has never paid for
so much as glass of water or a piece
of bread for me. Neither during nv
stay in Washington nor on nv trim
abroad, nor during my stay in Paris
and return to this country did I ac-
cept one cent of government funds for
my personal use of any sort. l paid
tor my passage to and from Europe.
In addition never used a government
automobile in Washington, nor did any
one connected with my board or it's
work. While in Paris had my own
automobile.
even during my stay in Washing
ton | paid out of my pocket for the
Office rent and telephone calls and the
clerk hire when my Office was in the
the Counsel of Defence Building l con
tinued to pay the salary of the man
and woman who acted as my secre-
taries there. 1t is only fair to say
that there were many other men, both
in Washington and in Paris, who can
say the same thing as THAT they
have never received one cent from the
government for the service except the
check for 81, which they keep as
matter OF pride and record.
Il appeal to you as a fair-minded
man for your help in gaining an op-
portunity to still the tongues of nv
traducers. If they are right should
be shot; if they are liars, as l have
publicly accused them of being, then
they deserve worse fate for aspersing
the name of one who merely tried to do
ms duty, with a heart full of devotion
to the ideals of his country"