The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-17
SENATE ASKS WILSON
FOR COPY OF PROTESTl
IN SHANTUNG MATTER

Senator Sherman, Republican, Illinois,
declared to-day the section giving Japan
control of Shantung peninsula so taints
and poisons the professed altruism with
which the league of nations was herald
ed as to crown it the superlative treach'
cry in the history of modern times.
The provisions, asserted the speaker
would aid Japan in becoming the sabre
rattler of the world" and strengthen her
for the day when she might try, like
Germany, for world empire In such an
eventuality, he continued, and with Brit
ish and Japanese interests in the Orient
identical" the United States might well
look to the safety of the Philippines.
'Why China should be exploited" he
said, 'her territory absorbed in the g,iise
of lease holds, her port cities dominated
by alien powers, her mining and railway
rights seized by Japan, does not appear
except under the rule of covetous desire
coupled with military force,
"lt is material to notice under the
Japanese constitution the emperor has
the supreme command of the army and
navy, declares war. makes peace and con.
cludes treaties. The kaiser could do. nc
more in the days he menaced Europe and
the world. 1t is as plain as the MONDAY
sun that the government is autocratiC
and that it will add Chinese province
upon province, concession upon conces,
sion, until an Asiatic kaiser will dom.
mate the affairs of Asia and the Pacific
ocean.
"The harshness of japanese occupa,
tion, the cruelties inflicted on the help
less inhabitants, the seizure of property
and the resulting looting irresistibly
turns our thoughts to the German con
duct in Belgium. We are asked to ap
prove the other and declare it justified iT
holy cause.
Japan intends, we are told, in limit
ed time to withdraw from Shantung anC
return that country to China. In every
instance in which Japan has pledged her
self upon the continent of Asia to occupy
temporarily she has made that occupan
cy permanent.
"The United States exercises soy
ereignty in the Philippines. Japan's ex
pansion is seaward as well as landward
Her ambition covers the Pacific ocean a,
well as the Asiatic mainland With Ger
many in perpetual intrigue, it is no fal
inference that practical partition re
sulting from union of those two pow
ers in Europe and Asia is no impossible
event.
Japan assumes sovereign rights over
Chinese territory. Mere refinement OF
language, of specious Interpretation, vii
not remove this impending truth. Japar
will not surrender this advantage 81
gained Article 10 and the portion oi
the treaty relating to Shantung are twir
brothers of common iniquity. They
speak the language of joint outrag,
and bear the evidence Of deliberate cor
spiracy
Great Britain bore large part in the
war. The life blood of Great Britain il
her foreign trade. We are without ade
quate experience in foreign trade. We
are upon the threshold of that expert
ment. Great Britain is keenly observant
of our course. She has been void of sen
timent and sometimes of humanity il
breaking down and destroying her rivals
"NNe have denied Japan the right ot
immigration for her subjects. 1t is 6
wound to their pride We are vulnerable
in the Philippines. Our great friend lies
beyond in the people of the Chinese re
republic, In our day Of peril it must b,
remembered that the interests of Great
Britain and Japan in the Orient are iden
tical
"We can defend ourselves It will b,
heavy price to pay but it viii be paid
We may lose the Philippines. Our great
est friend may then be the Chinese peo
pie whom to-day we are asked to hu
initiate and dismember."