Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-07-22
70 justify the defeat q the treaty.

to justify the defeat Of the treaty.
This, it seems to me, is one Of the
shallowest arguments yet advanced by
the opposition. It Ii one however
that appeals to sentiment and to the
imagination, and the opponents Of !, the
league have not failed to play upon
that feature of it and to exaggerate
its Importance in relation to the null
tude of far more vital problems which
this treaty undertakes to settle
\ The Shantung Peninsula, with its
ports, as we all know, was in the pos
session of Germany, and had Been
since 1898, when Germany siezed II
by force from China. That seizure
was wrong, as all admit, but it was
acquiesced in by the other nations OF
the world. 1t is not for us at this
time to enter into discussion Of that
wrong. In the latter part of 1914, af-
ter Japan had entered the World War
against Germany, she acquired this
Province by force of arms from Ger
many and has held it since then. She
has announced solemnly on several oc-
casions thai it is her purpose to re-
store the Province to China and has
pledged her faith and honor az a ma
ton to do so. am one of those who
believe that she will keep her promise
not only az an act of national good
faith, but also in view of the fact
that withaso much attention drawn to
this question her honor as a nation
would be forever so furnished in the
eyes of the world If she failed to do
so that she would suffer irreparable
injury. 1t is, / believe, unfair, as it is
certainly indiscreet, for Senators upon
this floor to attack her good faith be-
fore she has broken it or has been
given sufficient opportunity to fulfill
her promise and obligation. ia M
But it is not my purpose, Mr.. Presi-
dent, to discuss all of the features of
this question. I have referred to it
and briefly recited some of the facts
in regard TO it in order to call parti-
cular attention to one view of the sub
ject which I have not yet heard dis
GUESSED upon the floor, but which
seems to lie is one that deserves the
most serioi consideration in Justice
to Japan's position. Senators have
criticised the peace conference, and
particularly our representatives there,
in not demanding that Japan should
surrender that Province Immediately
and in not having put int his treaty a
provision compelling her to do so.
Have Senators thought what this
meant to Japan, whose people are SO
sensitive, and who already felt ag-
grieved at the refusal of the confer
ence to place in the treaty some pro-
vision on the race question?
Japan met her allies in that con-
ference as an equal, as one who had
taken part in the war with them, and
as one of the five great powers which
dictated and controlled the
terms Of peace. She had acquired
territory from Germany by conquest;
SO had England; so had France; and
Italy had acquired territory from
Austria. Was there a reason why
Japan alone of all the Allies should
be singled out and compelled by the
terms of peace to surrender immedi-
ately territory which she had acquir-
ed when her other allies were not ask
ed to be subjected to such treaty
stipulation In effect, Mr.. President,
such an insistence by the other allies
upon Japan to surrender Shantung
Province by provision in the treaty
Of peace would have meant this:
I'VE, the representatives of the allied
and associated Governments in this
peace conference, although you have
been one of our allies in the prose-
,ution of the war, do not trust you;
and Notwithstanding that you have
given your solemn word that it is
your purpose in due time to surren-
der this Province to China, we de-
nand that it be now stipulated in|
his treaty and definitely fixed as to
terms and time"
If such had been done, Mr.. Presi-
lent, it would have been the only case
If the kind in this treaty. for oneI
10 not believe that Japan, even if itl
night have been her intention and
wish to surrender that province tol
China the next day, could have agreed
% such a provision, without sacri-
ice of her self-respect and an asper-
ZION being cast upon her national
ionor. That was one of the q most
lifficult problems before the peace
conference, and one which, believe
hey treated in the only way possible |
or the present. We must in this
ase rely upon the future for its pro-
'er and honorable settlement.
The position Of Japan on this ques-
ion is well illustrated in a statement
,iven out by Baron Maxine, one Of
he Japanese peace delegates at Paris
n April 30, 1919 in which he said:
1--WE are accused of intending to oc-
upy Kiachow permanently. That is
nexact We have agreed to restored
to China. Our agreements will
old-our agreements always hold.
here is no example in history of
apan breaking her word. It is just
obody has the right to doubt curl
AI..A -. u L. II II