Republican farmer., 1919-07-18
COMMITTEE ASKS FOR
 PEACE DOCUMENTS IN
 HANDS OF PRESIDENT
READING OF SECRET PACT ON SHANTUNG PENINSULA SETTLEMENT STARTLES SENATE-HITCHCOCK WILL ASK
 HEARINGS BE PUBLIC.

ht IhhptIlil JdpdllPSe govern ment proposes to demand from Germany at the time of the peace negotiations the surrender of the territorial rights and special in- terests Germany possessed before the war in ShantunF and the islands sit uated north of the equator in the Pacific ocean.
 @ The Imperial Japanese govern fnent confidently hopes the govern ment of the French republic. realiz- ing the legitimacy of these demands, will give assurance that, her ease be- ing proved. Japan may count upon its full support in this question.
 The French ambassador replied to the Japanese foreign office as follows:
 The government of the French re- public is disposed to give the Jap anese government its accord in reg ulatinE at the time of the peace ne gotiations questions vital to Japan concerning Shantung and the Ger man islands in the Pacific north of the equator. It also agrees to sup port the demands of the Imperial Japanese government for the surren- der of the rights Germany possessed before the war in this Chinese prov ince and these islands.
 
 CT hand, that Japan give its support to obtain from China the breaking of its diplomatic relations with Germany, and that it give this act desirable s:g- nificance.'
 Upon receipts of this communica- ton the foreign minister of Japan, on behalf of Japan, promised compliance with the request of the French gov crnment contained in this letter. Sim liar negotiations were entered into with similar results, with Italy. Simi- lar agreements also were made with Russia and it must be remembered that at that time, Russia was still in the war.
 Tt is thus clearly disclosed that while these leading governments of the world were inducing China to get into the war, in order that they might secure her assistance and that they might be able to get possession of the ships interned in China's harbors. they were secretly plotting among themselves as to her destruction as soon as she had compiled with their wishes and the war was over. In all the annals of history, I do not be- lieve there is recorded an instance of a more disgraceful and dishonorable agreement to carve up the territory nOt OI any eHelllys put Ol tH d4lISu friend.
 And if we approve this wicked de- cree, is 1t any defense to say that we were the only member of the court that was not bribed? If we ratify this treaty it stands, we approve not only the Judgment but the repre- hensible method by which 1t was brought about. If this treaty as 1t stands becomes operative and later the thirty millions of Chinese in Shantung should rebel against the rule of the Japanese and then if the balance of China should go to the as sistance of their own brethren in at tempting to overthrow the unlawful and cruel rule of a foreign govern ment, then under section ten of the League of Nations as it now stands, it would be our duty to contribute American lives and American blood on the battlefield to assist Japan to retain her power.
 This treaty should go back, and I believe if the American people could have an opportunity to see all the vice that it contains and were able to express their patriotic senti- ments, 1t would go back practically by a unanimous vote. When the honest citizens of Great Britain, of France, of Italy. realize the injustice that II contains. they will unite with us in demanding that 1t be rejected"
 While declaring he favored the gen. eral idea of a League of Nations Senator Norris said he considered the Versailles covenant contained many obiectiorable features and would vote for changes in it.