The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-10
Sen. johnson
Wants Light
Chief Of Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee IN the
Dark on Treaty Nego-
tiations With Germany
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
Copyright by Tie Intc:l.gencer)

------
Washington Aus. o.--Scna,or Hiram
johnson, OF california. has hrcn making
inquiries ot Senator Lodge. chairman
80 the senate foreign relations com
rrittec - determine what i going on
between the United states government
and the German Scvernrren; w:;h re-
spect to the tahlishmcnt rC peace.
Mr.. johnson Is \ member cf The =" cate
foreign relations committee. and. As
such. feels that hc ia entitled to know
What steps are being taken TO make
peace With Germany. He asked Mr..
Lodge II Il WAS true that treaty was
he:rS negotiated with Germany MI
Lodge said hc had not been advised by
lHe executive branch OF the government.
Senator Johnson wanted Ia know IL
ne German rcichstag committee on
foreign affairs had 4 copy Of proposals
10 be embodied in = peace treaty and
again the Massachusetts, senator pro-
Sessed ignorance.
What would We have said IL all this
had happened under the last admins
traticn." eXCIaimS Senator Johnson. as
ne points out that rot sCintilia OF
information has been given the senate
foreign relations committee about the
status OF our negotiations or converse
tons with the German government
about peace. This fact has not been
generally known. II has been supposed
light along that President Harding and
Secretary Hughes have been consulting
mo senate. That was the chier criti'
ci>m level,Hd against III" Wilson admin
iBtration--a refusal - take rognizanct
~ the senatcs function as a part OF
he trcaty-mak.nE Howr-. Senator Lodge
=
right to have it's say In advance OF the
actual signing OF a peace treaty and he
circulated \ round robin which was
signed by practically a.: the Republican
senator's expressing 'ac scnats's views
about treaty which was then under
negotiation.
Tho Massachusetts senator was asked
whether the senate would have SIM
liar opportunity 20 express rs views on
.he new treaty while It was being ne
rotated but this time ne Is reported
10 have said that he supposed II was
no. a matter OF concern for the senate
until after the treaty was actually
signed and submitted to the senate for
ratification. whether NJ. IIodg" meant
10 convey the Impression hat h" HIM
Se,r had reversed h: previous Tl"w> on
the subject OF senate intervention In
reacc negotiations or whether ne mean:
hat the executive branch OF the gov
eminent felt Il was 10, matter ot
concern tor the senate IS the basis OF
a good deal Of speculation at the capitol
Others In ths Dark
Senator johnson Incidentally Is not
me only member os the senate foreign
relations committee who says he t= In
;hs dark about the foreign policy ot the
administration. Others are saying the
samo thing. Senator Lodge as Repuh'
,ican leader naturally bears the brun'
- this discomfort. HI asked for an
enSa cement with Pressden: Harding Just
As soon as the latter returns from his
,en-day trip. Whether i: was TO get
more information about the German
.reaty or TO discuss a senate recess
vas not indicated.
Certainly tho department; % state ha,
rot given any sign oc letting anybody
know what sort os treaty - being out
ned 20 Germany and il may be that
NJ. Lodge having no; hccn given de-
'etls OF the parleyS by Secretary Hughes
- asking tho wh.te House 'nr informa-
or. The usual course is for the presi'
dsnt or secretary Of state 70 advise thu
hartman OF the senate foreign reta'
N foreign policy oven though the de-
.a;Is are frequently withheld. In the
case Of treaty WHICH is likely - be
4, source o. controversy efforts are sons-
';mes mads {" "anvasS sentiment IN the
senate In advance TO determine course
cr action. On this occasion. there is
m explanation or the department ~
states policy except on. l. is being
,a'd ,ha, FOR reasons "t domestic pol
t,cS q might no' bs ~ 20 pr"ripitate
= controversy before as treaty is actu-
oiy signed who's SnRs tho pact Is
made there would be difficulty inAmrnd-
.1E u because that w@id recessitatC
rIrth~r negotiations wi-N Germany and
more dr.ay. Two Hughes po:icy - Nvi-
fan'lv ~ confront tho senate with m
accomplished far; jus, "a Mr. W.. "1
endeavored to do when the suhm t"1
rho Versailles pact.
Committee In Ignorance
Summed m the S"ra.H foreign -a.a-
ttons comni'trN = officially in Igror.
Ance Of the fact that Secretary lfuShes
Is discussing new .rcatv VITA N"
German government. :: knows Only
what the press dispatches from Erri'r
aave reported. namelr. that Amor Ca r
Commissioner PRESSED has laid before
the German government y memoranda n
outlining tho kind of treaty the stats
department. would In" - see formula tod
The German government. has been dis
CusstnE the matter with - committees
\ the reich<taS - learn = approral
would Re S!vca the pact. The answers
'hus far given in the Informal exchanges
are said TO indicate eventual agreement,
nnt just what Is 70 he in Tho now treaty
- wha. unders n ndtnGs are being secret
" made WIN tho fie-m7n EoTcrn neo
NOBODY IN the senate Claims ~ know.
DlpYcpcpIIDc elDI