New-York tribune., 1919-10-16
Reservation ON Shantung
Virtually Is Sure to Win

has been counted in favor OF the
amendment ever since his letter, which
was published in The Tribune. declar-
ing that ii the treaty was ratified as
drawn the United States would be IN
war in year, with soldiers fighting
abroad. But to-day was his first pub
lie announcement an the Johnson
amendment.
Senate Shields began by announcing
that he would vote against the Shan
tung amendment. "The proposed
amendment, in my opinion" he said, /,
''ce:ificts directly with the long estab-
lished policy OF the United States for
bidding Intervention in intrigues, po-
litical affairs and resultant wars Of
foreign countries, which is undertaken
to be abandoned and destroyed by Arti-
Gle X or the proposed league of ma
tons covenant, and which majority
OF the Senate, I hope and believe, will
obviate by the reservations reported
by the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions for that purpose, or one similar
in effect, to which, and other reserva-
tions in line with it, | will give my
hearty support.
II am unable to reconcile support
of the Shantung amendment, matter
solely between the Empire of Japan
anu tHe INepuDllC Ol Onlnd, Win lnc
proposed reservation to Article X, and,
in my belief, those who support the
amendment and this reservation are
occupying absolutely inconsistent po-
stions.
Unwilling to Obligate u. S.
"l shall oppose all provisions of the
proposed league of nations and
tho treaty which violate or tend to
abandon the policy of the United
States, proclaimed by Washington and
reiterated in messages and other pub
lie documents by Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, Jackson, Cleveland, and by
President Wilson in public addresses
as late az 1914, 1915 and 1916, that
this country should not form any en-
tangling alliances or involve itself IN
the jealousies. strifes, political in
trieue and resultant wars of foreign
countries, and support such amend
mcnts and reservations as may be nee
essary TO preserve unimpaircd that pol
icy.
~ am unwilling to obligste the
United States to guarantee the terri
torial integrity and existing political
independence Of some forty-iive ma
tions, found in every part OF tho globe,
populated by all the different races of
peoples and nationalities, including the
harhung possessions of the British EN-
pre. | am unwilling to vote again for
& conscript law to send Young men of
this country into foreign countries like
Hessian mercenaries to take part in Il
war the right or wrong OF which they
do not know and IN which our country
is not Interested An army cannot be
raised for that purpose IN any other
way than by such legislation; and |
now predict if this treaty is ratified
that there will be instances where Con
gress will fail to observe it, although
it IS in honor bound to carry out any
treaty that the constitutional treaty
making powers shall enter into"
Against Unequal Vote
''I wish to call the Senator's atten-
ton to the fact that the pending Mill
tary bill makes conscription automatic
the moment q war is declared, the
President having the right to call out
the troops by the draft process, just as
he had during the last war, and that
bill is now submitted to us as a part
Of the scheme OF world peace" inter-
rupted Senator Reed.
Il can announce right now" replied
Senator Shields, chat if such provi-
sions are in the bill when it comes be-
fore the Senate it shall not have my
support.
Il Will not consent" continued Sen
ator Shields. "to the British Empire
having six votes in the league of ma
tions to one vote fcr the United States.
I have too much pride in my country
and too much respect for its flag to
approve any treaty that comedies
precedence to Great Britain or reduces
the United States to political equality
ct home or abroad with q colony or
subordinate division of that empire.
Our flag. with my consent, shall never
float lower than that OF Great Britain
or any combination Of nations"