New-York tribune., 1919-08-07
Japan Would Have Waived
Shantung, Lansing Admits

sued Z"
81 don't know just what you mean
What do you mean by policy?"
Were the fourteen points taken up
in this connection as the basis for the
American delegation's policy at Paris %
"1 don't think they were discussed"
"Why has an amendment to the
treaty with France Of 1922 Just been
sent to the Senate? %
~ know nothing about it,"
Did Colorcl House agree with your
objections to the Shantung settle
mcnt?'
81 never discussed shantung with
Colonel House"
"Does the American delegation agree
with your Interpretation of Article X -
at was never discussed officially"
Does the Presiden, agree with your
Interpretation Of Article X?"
81 was never present when it was
discussed officially"
The biggest Republican effort, dur
ing the hearing, was to induce Mr..
Lansing to admit that under Article
X America would be bound to use force
if so directed by the league council,
and that the Congress sitting at the
time would be bound morally. at least,
to send men and guns to some foreign
country
Refuses to Interpret
Senator Johnson, Of California,
quoted the Presidents three inter
pretations of Article X, but Mr. Lansing
refused to interpret the Presidents
language.
"ln one brcath,' declared Senator
Knox, "the President says we would
I,o ro he
can do as we please want your
opinion because | value it,"
Mr. Lansing said his own judgment
was that after the league council had
recommended military action and had
prescribed the number of troops to be
sent by each country, it was entirely
optional with each country as to
whether it would actually aid in the
military effort or not
He admitted that country might be
in honor bound to obey, but said that
would be for the sitting Congress to
determine. He laid emphasis on the
Importance of the "aggrcssion" and
whether the aggression was an "evil"
aggression or not.
1t was at the conclusion Of a series
OF questions on this that Mr.. Lansing
admitted he had never been present
when Article x was discussed officially.
Several times during the examination
Senators, especially Mr.. Johnson, of
California, and Mr.. Fall, of New Mex
leo, grew impatient at Mr.. Lansing's
lack of information
II thought you were at least as
familiar with the treaty as | am"
Mr.. Fall rctortcd to one Of the 81 don't
know" answers.
81 wanted to show said Mr.. John
son, that the territorial divisions we're
made and arc being made to-day in
Paris under the terms Of these secret
treaties. But / will not ask you that
because you don't know anything about
these treaties"
Never Saw Them. He Says
Mr.. Lansing had just confessed he
had never seen the texts of these
treaties.
eve paid no attention to those secret
treaties" he said
Did you in the Shantung case? ?" in
quired Senator Johnson.
81 should have said except in the
Shantung case" acknowledged Mr.. Lam
sing
The Secretary was sharply questioned
when he said that an avoidance Of
the old policy of expediency" in addi-
ton to common sense, was the founda-
ton on which the American mission
proceeded at Paris.
lie was forced to admit, by Senator
Johnson, that the Shantung settlement
did fall within tho old doctrine of ex-
pedlency, and further that it was in
violation, if not of the spirit of the
fourteen points. at least with the spirit
and letter of the four additional points
lad down by the Pres dcnt in his Fourth
OF July Mount Vernon address, which
Mr.. Wilson and Germany specified were
the basis of accepting the armistice
Holds Shantung Unnecessary
"Was tie Shantung settlement nece,-
SSary to get Japan 10 assent to the
league OF nations? % demanded Senator
Johnson.
"The league of nations would not have
been endangered even if Shantunc had
not been yielded" said Mr.. LANSING.
80 Shantung merely lost US one sigma
turc, he replied to another question.
mat or China, who would have signed
had Shantung been omitted"
senator johnson took the fourteen
points up one by one with Mr.. Lah :
sing' to see If he thought they had
heen substantially carried out" as
L.
"Openly Arrived At"
Mr.. Lansing thought "open cove
nants Of peace, openly arrived at" had
been carried out
The question Of the "frecdom of the
seas he said, had never been raised.
isn't IT fact" inquired Senator
johnson, that England would not per
NIT it to be raised? Isn't it a fact that
hcr public men declared hefora +,o
convenlng Of the peace conference that
UNI" " W ~ 0"s' ~
That was only the statement of
campaign orators on the stump before
an election" said Mr.. Lansing con-
temptuously.
hat was one election pledge that
was carried OUT broke in Senator
Dorah
On No, 8 of the fourteen points Mr..
Lansing first cited the language intend
ed 10 accomplish disarmament
nat leaves 1t entirely optional with
each country what it will do" said
Senator johnson. "You don't believe
that it accomplishes disarmament. do
YOU" Wv
"Oh, probably not" said Mr.. Lansing.
Hazy on American Draft
Mr. Lansing said he had no recollcc-
ton of the American draft of the
league containing a provision for an
international police force, with the
military and naval proportions deter
mined. He said the present draft was
much superior to the American plan.
Apparently, to the surprise of evcrv-
one, Senator McCumber, the most s.al
wart friend of the league on the Re
publlCan side, and who has heer do