The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-28
SHANTUNG GRAB HIT
BY FRENCH CHAMBER
Report of Deputy Says Japan's
Action Leaves Stain on
Treaty of Justice.
ALLIANCE FACTS Barred
Wilson and Lloyd George Made
Offer-Foch's Opposition
to League Told.
by LAURENCE HILLS.
stdG Correspondent Of THE suN.

stat Correspondent Of THE SuN.
Copyright. 1919, all rights reserved.
PARIS, Aug. 27.-That President will
son and Premier Lloyd George proposed
the treaties of alliance with France in
q joint letter which they addressed TO
Premier Clemenceau as early as March
IA, when the League of Nations was in
its early stages, is the interesting dis
closure in a report to the Chamber OF
Deputies just made public in extenso.
This report is the basis Of the ratifica-
ton debate which opened yesterday in
the Chamber. Another feature is the ex-
coriation of the Shantung settlement,
which is described as shockingly incon-
sstent with the Wilson principles.
Nevertheless, II recommends the ratih-
cation of the treaty on the ground of
mere expediency-because of the neces-
sity of resuscitating the economic life
of the country, which is diving headlong
into ruin.
The proposal Of President Wilson and
Premier Lloyd George was handed to
the French in the form of a suggestion
prefaced by a statement that Great Bril-
tain and the United States, recognizing
that France needed a special guarantee
to safeguard the security Of her
frontiers, had decided to offer her such
| q guarantee In the form of a treaty in
| which the two Powers engaged them
selves to employ their military forces
to aid France in case she was attacked.
CIemenceau Is Doubtful.
1t seems that this proposal envisaged
| the alliance treaties as of a nature more
| or less political rather than military,
differing essentially from the physical
guarantee which France had requested.
| On March IA, three days after he mad
| received the Lloyd George Wilson letter,
| Premier Clemenceau replied:
THE French Government appreciates
highly the great value of such guaran-
| tees as you propose, which would change
materially the aspect Of the international
situation. The Government is disposed
| entirely to accept II, but 1t must point
| out that this guaranee in order to be
| efficacious needs to be precise and posi-
tibe.
First, there will always be a time
| when, because of distance, that France,
II attacked, will have to defend herself
alone. without the aid OF her allies across
/ the waters it is necessary that she
| should be abb eto do II under better
circumstances than in the past Thus
It is essential that there should be no
doubt in regard to the substance, extent
| and nature of this engagement. that is
| to say, in regar dto the obligations i'm
posed upon Germany. the means of con-
| troll applicable thereto, definition of the
| act which would constitute menace of
| war, and the defensive rights to which
| Franc ewould have recourse and the
military help which can be expected FROM
| America and Great Britain. In effect.
1t Is not possible for France In such a
matter to renounce positive security for
mere hopes"
FOch's Report on League.
l. The report, which is by Deputy Bar
thou, embodies also the memorandum by
| Marshal Foch which was submitted to
the council February 20. In this con-
nection it is interesting to note the al
most parallel situation existing in Wash
ington and here; the French Government
apparently is Withholding documents
from the Parliamentary committee that
is studying the treaty. Barthou charges
that the Government did not supply the
committee with facts, and It was only
after some difficulty that 1t obtained
such documents as the Foch report.
Foch's memorandum takes up one by
one the reasons why the League of Ma
tons cannot furnish sufficient guaran-
tee. One of the principle reasons ad-
vanced is that the very nature of the
constitution OF the league prevents II
from being an efficacious agency for the
prevention of war. particularly in the
event of an attack, for example. by Ger
many against France.
NO matter II the Intervention of the
leagues executive committee comes with
the maximum Of rapidly" says the re-
port. 1T cannot decide to come to the
aid of the member attacked until the
extent and size of the military and naval
contingents to be employed have been
specified, and. this it cannot do II II
lacks executive power.
Let us take the case of the United
States, for example. The American land
and naval forces cannot be employed
without the consent of Congress. Sup
pose Congress is not In session, that il
is on vacation?
Many Causes for Delay.
I'VE must expect then the following
steps in the interval between Germany's
aggression and Americas assistance:
First, a decision OF the executive
committee of the league; second. a ses
, sion of the American Congress in which
quorum is assured. which may in
volve n delay of four or five days; third
a discussion of the case with all thu
facts. &C, in Congress; fourth. the mo