The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-09-04
''C0D Save CHINA
FROM FRIENDS"
Senator McCumber Protests In
Senate Against Shantung
Amendment to Treaty.
AGAINST INTEREST OF China
Republican Senator Asserts That Qp-
ponents Of the Peace Treaty In
the Senate Are Trying
to Kill Il.

Washington. Aug. Ex-senator Nc.
Cumber, for 20 years Republican sena-
tor from North Dakota, in a speech in
the senate today, charged that the ma
5ority of the foreign relations COM
mittee IS trying to kill the peace treaty
and the League Of Nations. Senator
McCumber spoke after his second
breach with the opponents Of the
; treaty on the senate committee on for
e1gn relations. In the present breach
Senator McCumber voted alone with
the supporters Of the treaty and
against the majority of the committee
which voted to strike out Japan" and
insert China" in the three sections
awarding the Shantung peninsula.
why did the majority Of this CON-
mittee pause in the midst Of their
hearings to make this particular
amendment" asked Senator McCumb-
er. The purpose is apparent. It is to
signify to the country that the senate
Is hostile to this treaty. 1t Is to put
Japan In position where she cannot,
without an appearance Of being
coerced, do what she has promised to
do. It Is to create trouble between
this country and Japan and thereby
send the first dagger thrust into the
body of this treaty.
Il am satisfied that no greater blow
could ever be struck against thS real
interests OF China than by such an
amendment.
Us it an act Of true friendship to-
ward China or a mere political move
to defeat the treaty? If its sponsors
now foil 10 come forward and openly
pledge that If Japan is driven out of
this treaty then the United States will
proceed single handed and alone to
drive Japan out of China, will renew
this world war and send our soldiers
into the orient to fight for her, then
by this act they are betraying China
with false kiss
IF, on the other hand, they declare
they will make war to drive Japan
out Of China, to prevent Japan re-
ceN1ng only those rights which the
other great nations of the world have
received, then they are proclaiming q
policy which they have assailed as be-
ing the most wicked part of the
League Of Nations-a policy Of inter-
ference with the quarrels Of the old
world. Worse than that. While they
violently condemn joint agreement
with the other great white nations Of
the would to shield the greater white
races from annhilation they would
send orr sons to death to defend the
inferior yellow races which we claim
to be so inferior to us as to be unfit
to associate with.
"Nther we will bring both Japan
and China into this League Of Nations,
which by the very terms Of its pro-
visions VIII compel Japan to return to
China all the German rights acquired
by Japan, not only by conquest but by
the solemn agreement made by her
with China herself, or you will drive
japan out of this treaty wherein she
will not be bound by the obligations
which she would assume by Joining
the league, and where she will be hold
ing the German territory and all the
German interests by the right Of con-
quest; and with the broken word Of
China she can work her way to the
very limit of subjugatlon Of all the
Chinese territory not now within the
sphere ok influence Of other powers.
with this League Of Nations China
obtains an assurance which is tanta
mount to a guaranty by all the world
that not only will Japan return to
China what Germany wrested from
her In 1893. but henceforth and 50
long rs this league shall last no other
nation shah rob China Of one inch Of
her territory or exercise any control
over her people inconsistent with the
claims of complete independence and
sovereignty"
Senator McCumber then recited the
history Of the several treaties under
which Japan took over the German
rights in Shantung. promising to re-
store them to China. He then said:
by this amendment you declare that
Japan cannot be trusted to keep sacred
her word. given not only to China but
also given to the United States and
every other important nation by reit-
Grated declarations.
There is but one honorable, upright and
proper course to be pursued by all the
great nations OF the world, including
China and Japan. Let China keep her
treaty; give Japan an opportunity to do
what she has pledged her national honor
to do; cease this attempt to juggle this
country into war with Japan; defeat this
proposed amendment which arrogates to
ourselves the right to annul treaty be-
tween China and Japan and sets at naught
d treaty made during the stress OF battle
between our co-belligerents and Japan
before we entered into the war; bring
Japan and China into this world league,
and as sure az the sun shall rise tomor-
row Japan will keep her plighted faith.
China will receive complete present justice
and assured future protection.
ION the other hand force this breach of
'cntract by China drive Japan out of the
league by insulting her honor: relieve her
from her treaty by first breaking it your
selves and thereby installing her in her
'npregnable position Of right of conquest
and China is doomed. The other Euro
y u IL,