Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-27
SENATORS WAGE
FIERCE DEBATE
over SHANTUNC
Hitchcock Of Opinion That
All Amendments to Treaty
Will Be Defeated
Eventually.

1
Associated Press.)-Provisions for
American representation on a score
of international commissions to car
ry out deails of the peace settlement,
would be stricken out of the peace
treaty under a sweeping amendment
adopted by the senate foreign rela-
tons committee.
Later in the senate itself the COM
mittee's previous decision to amend
the Shantung section raised a whirl-
wind OF debate, with Senator Nc
Cumber, North Dakota, bitterly at
lacking the committees course, and
Senator Borah, Idaho, defending it.
Both are republican members of the
committee.
At the end of the day Senator
Hitchcock of Nebraska, the demo-
cratic leader, talked over the posi-
bilities of the situation with Presi-
dent Wilson at the White House and
predicted afterward that all amend
ments would be defeated eventually
and that the treaty would be'ratified
during September.
Divide on Party Lines
In its decision regarding American
participation in the reconstruction
commissions, the committee divided
on party lines, the nine republicans
present standing as a unit for the
amendment and the seven demo-
cratic votes all being recorded in the
negative. Senator McCumber, who
voted with the democrats against
the Shantung amendment, was abb
sent
Although the committees action
would change the language of the
treaty in more than fifty places,
scattered through many sections, an
exception was made of the repara-
tons commission which is to have
charge of the collection of Ger
many's indemnity bill. Senator Fall,
republican, New Mexico. who pre-
scented the amendment, said he had
not proposed taking the American
representative from this commission
because he felt American interests
might be directly involved in its
work.
In the commissions which are at
fected by the amendment, Mr.. Fall
said, American interest would be 50
indirect as not to compensate for
the dangers of becoming hopelessly
involved in European affairs. Among
these commissions are the bodies set
up to rectify the boundary between
Belgium and Germany, to establish
the free city of Danzig, to supervise
numerous plebiscites and to take
care of various other details under
the treaty.
The amendment also omits ref
erence to the commissions that are
to be appointed by the league of
nations. Committee members say
that was subject to be dealt with
after action had been taken regard
ing the league covenants itself.
McCumber Talks Out.
In his speech in the senate, Sena-
tor MeCumber declared the COM
mittee majority really intended the
Shantung amendment to drive a
poisoned blade" into the treaty
with the purpose of killing the
league of nations. He asserted that
the change which would give to
China instead of Japan the old Ger
man rights in Shantung province
was actually blow at Chinese be-
cause it could accomplish no result
but to drive Japan out of the league
and leave it free to pursue a. course
of spoilation against Chinese terri
tory.
Senator Borah replied that China
had nothing to hope for under the
league because the same powers
which will control its decisions al
ready had decided her case in favor |
Of Japan. He reviewed the history |
of Japanese diplomacy in the east |
and said all the facts argued against
Japan's keeping her promise to re-
turn Shantung to China.
Several Attack McCumber.
In the general debate which de-
veloped several other republicans
attacked the position taken BY SEN
ator McCumber, and Senator Fall
announced that he would reply to
the North Dakota senator at great
err length Wednesday. Republican
leaders declare the amendment is
assured of senate acceptance. but
after his White House conference
today Senator Hitchcock declared
it would be beaten decisivelv and !
that there would be a dozen repub
lican votes against it..
The president, Senator Hitchcock
said, seemed we'll pleased with the
senate situation and was confident
the treaty would be ratified with
out any amendments or reservations
that would reopen negotiations.
Wednesday the committee will re-
sumo, consideration of the Fall
amendment, the SPECIFIC application
of which to the treaty text was not
embraced in the blanket decision
1t is hoped to complete this work
Wednesday. as the committee be-
gins on Thursday an eight-day
schedule or hearings. 1t added to
the waiting list of witnesses repre-
sentatives of the India Home Rule
league.
Senator Knox of Pennsylvania,
republican member of the com
mittee, and former secretary of
state, announced he would speak in |
the senate Friday on the treaty. He
is regarded as one of the bitterest
opponents of unqualified ratifica-
ton.
Refuse COMPROMISE on