The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-05-08
BY EDWARD w. pJcKARp


In the interest Of on early peace and
Of the successful organization Of the
! league Of nations, President Wilson re-
Taxed last week somewhat from his
hitherto uncompromising attitude In
the matter of secret treaties and self
determination. As result the contro-
versy over Klau-Chau and the Shan
tung peninsula was ended in favor Of
Japan, which is 20 get all the old Ger
man concessions and grants. The Chi
nese delegation argued and protested
In vain, and there was an lntlmatiOn
that, though II would not Withdraw
from the conference, It would appeal
TO the United States senate.
Viscount Chinda successfully object
ed to the publication Of the treaty Of
1915 which was imposed on China. and
the two countries will be left to agree
on the details Of carrying out that
pact and the agreement of 1918. The
understanding Is that the city Of Kiau-
Chau will be given back TO China. but
that Japan will retain the port privi-
leges. More important are the rights
Japan obtains in the Shantung district.
including the most valuable railway
and mineral concessions
Since Great Britain virtually refused
TO support the American contention in
favor OF China and evidently intended
TO stand by her Japanese alliance. and
as Japan made II clear that II her de-
mands were rejected she would not re-
main i'm either the peace conference
or the league Of nations. there was
nothing for Mr. Wilson to do but
yield, and thus one of the most serious
disputes Of the conference was settled
The American delegation considered
the agreement the hest possible to be
obtained, and confidence is felt that
the league OF nations viii be able to
protect China's rights fully in the FL
ture. The Japanese military forces
are to he withdrawn from Shantung as
speedily as possible.
II the italian controversy can be set
tied as well as this. the peace makers
may certainly congratulate themselves.
but at this writing the end OF that dis
pute is not In sight. The Italian dele
CATION, returning home, was accorded
wildly enthusiastic receptions every
where, and the parliament gave Pre-
mier Orlando a vote OF confidence. only
a small group Of Socialists opposing.
II was expected that Orlando and his
colleagues. strengthened by this vote.
would go back TO Paris and resume
their efforts to put through the Italian
claims; but Wilson. Lloyd George and
Clemenceau. according TO reports. were
as firm as ever in the determination
that Fiume should not be given to
Italy. The probable outcome. II was
predicted, would be the internationali-
zation of that pot.
In his memorandum TO Orlando Mr..
Wilson said the town OF volpna should
belong TO Italy. and this has raised
another row. volpna is an Albanian
port. and the Albanian delegation said
its seizure by Italy would start a move
ment that would mean the dlsmember-
nent Of Albania. Already the Greeks
and Serbians were claiming parts OF
that country, because OF Mr.. Wilson's
stand concerning volpna.
Among the minor difficulties OF the
peace conference was protest by the
Belgian delegates against the indem-
nifty arrangements. II had been pro-
vided that Belgium should receive
s500,0O0000 as a part of the Ave bill
lions that Germany Is to be required
to pay by the end Of next year. This
was unsatisfactory to the Belgians be-