Evening star., 1936-01-16
BY REX COLLIER.

BY REX COLLIER.
J. p. Morgan, chief witness In the
Senate Munitions Committees who
got-us- us-into-the-World War;" inquiry,
today sharply rebuked q committee
member for Implying" the House Of
Morgan was bought" by the Allies.
II don't like that kind Of insimua-
tion," the 65-year-old international
financier snapped at Senator Clark,
Democrat, Of Missouri.
Morganis anger, evident for the first
time since the hearings began more
than q week ago. was aroused by q
remark Of Senator Clark that "if !
had made q $50 1000. 900 profit out Of
the Allies, my sympathies would have
been with them, too."
"Your implication" Morgan shot
back, "is that the Allies bought our
sympathy for $30,000,00
He paused a moment and then added
that he did not like Clarks assertion.
Disciaims Insinuations.
The Missouri Senator disclaimed
any intention Of making "insinua-
tions," but reiterated his belief that
Morgan's sympathies were Influenced"
by his profitable dealings with France
and England, for whom his firm was
wartime purchasing agent.
II just said I would probably have
a different viewpoint, too," Clark per-
sisted. if I had made $4,000, ,0G0."
IT believe you hold yourself too
low" Morgan retorted. II don't be-
lieve you could be bought that easily!"
The exchange began when commit
tee members suggested that the Nor
gan firm was opposed to Germany
during the war, not because of sub
marine atrocities. but because Of the
firm was doing a profitable business
with Germany's enemies.
Thomas w. Lamont. senior partner
in ]. p. Morgan g. Co.. declared: VI
can't undertake to defend Germany
here because We thought she was all
wrong"
Morgan broke in with the fiat state
ment that our interest and sympathy
were with the allies from the first day
| Of the war;
Probe Resumes After Furry.
After the furry between Morgan
and Clark had subsidized the commit
tee proceeded to delve anew into the
Morgan firms huge banking activities
prior to Americas entry into the war
The committee was endeavoring to
show Morgan's financial and trade re-
lations with England and France en-
broiled the United States In the con-
fiict.
Lamont reiterated the contention of
his firm that German "ruthlessness'
in submarine warfare was chiefly re-
sponsible" for Americas declaration
Of war against Germany.
The financial stringency Of Decem-
Der, 1916, which led the Federal Re-
serve Board to frown on private credits
to France and England arranged by
Morgan & Co. was reviewed, with the
committee accusing the Morgan firm
Of battling against the boards ruling.
Are you intending to convey the
impression we had any influence with
the Democratic ADMINISTRATION" La
mont inquired.
Senator Clark replied he believes
the firm exerted influence by means
Of Leverage" brought to bear on the
exchange market to frighten the Fed
eral Reserve Board into resembling
its action.
Lansing Letter In Record.
The committee placed in the record
a letter which Secretary of State
Lansing wrote to a relative the day
after America declared war on Ger
many. in which he said President
Wilson would have failed Of reelection
II he had pressed for American entry
in the war earlier.
TT is my judgment" the letter said,
that If the same resolution had been
presented in February the House
would have shown three times as great
opposition. and If it had veen voted
on last Summer its passage would
have been so close as to show divided
country. Indeed, 1t might have en-
tirely failed. OF course, the President
could have made record for him.
self by action then. but knowing the
temper Of the coordinate branch as
he did he would have placed the coun-
try In q most humiliating position.
The only course practicable was to
to wait.
to suffer further indignities, and to
make every effort to bring about
peace, so that the lukewarm would
grow hot and the cold lukewarm. 1t
was to wait the time when there
could be no question but that q sub
stantial majority favored war. Even
when that time arrived. the thought
that q very considerable number Of
paciflsts Of pro-German and anti
British adherents, and Of representa-
tives who sought at any cost the
material good of their constituents
could be counted against the resolu-
tion was to me distressing fact.
Great Temptation to. Act.
"The only satisfaction I derived
from the situation was that it must
open the eyes of many people, who
had been clamoring for action and
claiming that the President should
have acted after the Lusitania dis
aster or certainly after the Sussex.
Why, the President would have been
defeated and he tried to obtain action
after either case almost as certainly
as night follows day. 1t Is a very
different thing to feel the pulse Of the
whole Nation and to feel that Of q
city, q State or section of the coun-
try. You can have little idea of the
temptation to act and the difficulty
Of restraint though reason said that
immediate action would result In hu-
initiation. 49, '.-e
"Theret did not intend to write
you 80 fully, but I confess to a meas
ure Of indignation when ] consider
the abuse which the President has
borne because he was wise enough and
brave onoifh to wait until he was