The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1919-09-12
Senator Hitchcock So CharaC.
terlzCs Senator knOx's At.
tack on Peace Treaty.
AN INSANE FOREIGN POLICY
Amendment or Defeat Of the Treaty
Would Be Commercial and Finsn-
elal Disaster for America, Says
Nebraska Senator.

Peace. good or bad, reasonable or un.
reasonable. means the detest OF the
treaty with all its disastrous conse-
quenees. Senator Hitchcock OF Ne
braska, made a powerful speech in the
Senate today urging that the treaty be
ratified without delay and without
amendment.
Referring to the recent speech OF
Senator McCumber, Republican OF
North Dakota, who voted against the
Shantung amendment in the foreign
relations COMMITTEES, Senator Hitch
cock said: He has shown that the
proposed amendment instead OF help
ing China depriyes her Of the benefit
CT the promises and concessions the
United States has expected from Jap
an. He has shown that Japan is al
ready in possession Of the German
rights. privileges. and lease holds. lie
has also shown that Great Britain and
France are under pledge to Japan to
stand by her In her claim, and he has
challenged the supporters OF the pro
posed amendment to show how China
can possibly be benefited unless when
We reject Japan's promise We propose
to 90 TO war with her and drive her
out Of shantung for the benefit OF
China.
81 think the Senator from North Da-
kota conclasively demonstrated the
folly OF the proposed amendment as
far az 1t concerns China and the dan
ger that 1t involves to the United
States"
Senator Hitchcock then explained
the inevitable results II the Senate
should vote in favor Of the Shantung
amendment or any other. He said that
cue Of two things would happen
either the President would refuse TO
20 further with the treaty, or he would
have to submit the amendment to the
nations associated with the United
States in the war.
Does anyone believe" asked the
senator, that the other nations would
sccept the shantung amendment" He
pointed out that Great Britain has al
ready ratified the treaty aud Is un
der pledge to Japan with reference e
shantung; that Francois soon to ratl
fy the treaty and is under the sam
pledge TO Japan.
Does n one suppose that Japai
herself, would submit 10 such a humlll
alton before the eyes Of the world!
asked Hitchcock. 1.-THE answer is sim
pie" he asserted. I'VE would find ouI
selves out in the cold isolated from tn
rest OF the world.
What then, will the United state
DO? What will those American states
men propose who stand for this metz
Cd OF killing the treaty? Some
them will say that Congress can pas
q Joint resolution declaring a stat
Of peace with Germany. Others ga
the United States can negotiate a sci
arate and independent Treaty OF Peac
with Germany. Those who talk thi
way evidently have no conception
the enormous benefits and advantage
which the United States derives frol
this treaty. which we wrung from &c
MANY at the cannon's mouth. Neitht
have they any conception OF the dill
culties involved In negotiating a ne
treaty with Germany to establish u
terms Of peace and settle the contr
Versies of the war
ITO my mind. it would be suicidI
for the United States TO throw ava
the advantages and benefits provide
in this treaty. 1t would be diss
trous commercially and financially
would put Us at an enormous disadya
taee in our international relations n
only with Germany but with those n
lions which we would thus desert
They would remain bound togeth
BY ties Of mutual interest. They wou
enjoy the, benefits OF the treaty al
would not be slow to take every a
vantage al them. They would rese
our desertion.
"Up to this point, | have discuss
the possible defeat Of the treaty
means Of proposed amendments to
That Is the real program and hope
the majority OF the committee ON 4
eisn relations. Il is for that purpo
that the treaty has been locked up
cold storage for 50 many weeks. I
enemies Of the League OF Nations
the Senate are not many compar
10 its friends, but they control I
committee. They have felt Justified
retaining the treaty In the commltt'
holding useless hearings and maxi
killing amendments with the {
knowledge that amendments wo'
beat the treaty Just as effectively
4 refusal to ratify.
"A few. a very few, senators ha
declared that they would vote agaii
the treaty because Of the League
Nations. but 1t has remained for
Senator from Pennsylvania tMr Kns
to declare boldly against our partid,
ton In the treaty settlemeut
ITO say that he has auazed
country IA to put Il mildll--he ]