Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-08-23
SHANTUNG STORY
TOLD BY EXPERT
FOR FIRST TIME
Professor Williams DenounCes
Treaty But Says ReSigna-
ton Not Due to According
to Demands of Japan,

tsN MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wfRE1
Washington, Aug. pa first hanC
story of the negotiations which re
suited in the treaty provision givinl
Japan control in Shantung province
China, was told to the senate foreign
relations committee today by Profes
sor +. T. Williams, formerly the stat.
departments expert on far eastern
affairs, who acted as a technical ad
wiser to the American peace delegate
Professor Williams sail he har
OBJECTED very strongly to tho
Shantung settlement, bdt that his re
signation from the peace commission
had not been due to his opposition
On April %, the witness said
President Wilson sent for him and
asked him which of the proposed al
ternatives would be less injurious t.
China-the transfer of the German
Shantung rights to Japan, or insist
ence on the execution of Japan
treaty with China growing out of tn
famous twenty-one demands of 1916
II replied" continued Professo,
Williams, that l hoped nelthe
course would be found necessary. Tn,
president said that unfortunately
great Britain and France were bount
by certain engagements with Japan Il
support Japans claims in Shantun2
and that Lloyd George said he woul(
bow only on the consideration tina
the 1915 treaty was executed
Sanctity of Treaties.
THE president added that the wal
seemed to have been fought to estab
ish the sanctity of treaties and whit
some of them were unconsionablt
some of them were unscionable
ii looked as though it would be neces-
sary TO recognize them
The witness said he suggested that
since the 1915 treaty was eXacted by
force it ought not to be binding, bui
that the president replied Japan
might not be willing to recognize thai
they were made by force. Professo,
Williams then suggested that the
treaty have a blanket provision thai
all German property in China Should
be turned over to China and that any
rights taken from Germany by Japan
should be returned to China within
' Later the expert advisers of the
British, French and American dele
cations joined in memorandum say
ing that transfers of the German
Shantung rights to Japan would be
the more desirable of the two courses
suggested. Professor Williams and
McClay, a British expert joined in
a memorandum saying China ought
not be compelled to accept either al
tentative.
Discusses Fourteen Poins.
81 asked the president" said Pro
fessor Williams, whether the pro-
rosed settlement was not contrary
that unfortunately ne did not think
there was anything in the fourteen
points exactly covering the case.
Later | called attention to his Mount
Vernon address which, seemed to
cover the matter"
did the president make anw re-
sponse?" asked Senator Johnson, re-
publican, California.
Il only received a note from the
presidents secretary thanking me Tor
the memorandum"
Two DAYS later Professor Williams
said he was informed of the decision
taken. adding that DR.. S. X. Hornbeck'
the other American adviser on lar
eastern affairs had concurred IN OBJ
iecting. but that they did not file a
protest after the decision was an
nounced. A#
Asked whether, his resignation was
due to to any particular reason the
witness replied:
mo, my leave of obsence from the
University of California was about to
expire. I would have come home IN
any case"
Tends to Strife.
In rep'y to a question as to what
effect the Shantung decision might
have in china, Professor Williams
said
"I felt II would raise a strong pro-