Republican farmer., 1919-07-18

or the peace treaty flght were expected to result in further committee action and several hours of debate in the Senate chamber today.
 A charge that Japan se-
 cretly secured pledges
 from Great Britain. France
 and Italy and Russia early
 in 1917 that in the peace
 settlement Shantung pen
 insula should, for certain
 considerations be turned
 over to the TokiO govern
 ment, was made in the sen
 ate today by Senator Nor
 ris, republican, of Nebras-
 ka. He produced what
 he declared to be copies of
 diplomatic correspondence
 embOdying the promises of
 Great Britain and France.
 The foreign relations com mittee adopted a resolution re- questing the president, if not incompatible with the public interest, to furnish the com mittee virtually all documents considered by the American peace commissioners in their work on the treaty with Ger many.
 It was said that the resolution, of which Senator Johnson, republican. California; was author. was adopted by virtually unanimous vote and that action by the senate was not constd- cred. It requests the president to submit drafts of all proposals for League of Nations as well as steno- graphic transcripts of formal pro- ceedings at the peace conference.
 Another proposal considered cer- tain to arouse considerable discussion In the meeting was a motion by Sem ator Hitchcock, Nebraska, ranking Democratic member that all future committee hearings be opened to the public.
 Indications that President Wilson would not be asked to appear before the foreign relations committee for discussion of the peace treaty were said today to have been received in administration quarters.
 High administration officials inti- mated that they had been informed by some members Of the committed that the majority of that body seemed hostile to suggestions that the pres ident be asked to appear or that the committee confer as body with him at the White House.
 Should the committee decide not to invite the president to appear before it MT. Wilson might begin his tour of the country earlier than he had planned.
 In his allegations concerning the Shantung peninsula settlements the Nebraska senator declared these pledges fully explained the pressure which resulted in Shantung's transfer to Japan under the Versailles treaty whose. ratification by the senate. he inserted, would write the blackest page in the nations history"
 Great Britain's influence in the matter, he charged. was secured by Japan's support of British claims tc Pacific islands south of the equator while Frances aid was purchased by n promise of the Tokio government to help draw China into the war SC that German ships in Chinese harbor' would be available for carrying troop! and provisions to France.
 "On the 27th day of March 1916 said Senator Norris, ''the Japanes' minister of foreign affairs at Tokio approached the British ambassado nI, r.-fth n bringing about an agreement with thu British government. The British minister cabled to his government a London, and after receiving instruc tions from his government, wrote tn Japanese government on Februar. 1s, 1917. as follows:
 with reference to the subject O our conversation of the 27th ultim' his Brittennic maJesty's governmen acceeds with pleasure to request 0 the Japanese government for an as surance that they will support Japan claims in regard to the disposal O Germanys rights in Shantung am nossesston of the islands north of tn eouato on the occasion of the peac conference; 1t being understood tha inc Japanese government will in tn eventual peace settlement treat in tn same spirit Great Britain's claims | inc German islands south of the equa tor.
 (signed)
 Conyngham Greene.
 "On tho 21st day of February. 191 the Japanese government replied t this communication of the Britis Government as follows (omitting for mai part):
 .~The Japanese government Is ceep ly appreciative of the friendly spiri in whicn yvur government has give assuranes and hsHpy to note 1t a cres6 cY=ef s-< f-e c-.ose ties that unit the two allied powers. I take pleas ure in stating that the Japanese gov ernment on its part is fully prepar ed to support in the same spirit tn claims which may be put forward a the peace conference in regard to tn German possession fin the island south of the equator"
 ..while the Japanese governmen was waiting for reply from tn British government, 1t proceeded als to negotiate with the other allied gov srnments. Its message to the Frenc