The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-08-08
STORM IN SENATE
OVER PEACE TREATY
Bitter Criticism Of League and Shan
tung Provision-President is
Attacked.

Washington, Aug 5.-The league
of nations and the Shantung settle
ment both came in for more bitter
criticism today in the senate's con-
sideration of the treaty with Ger
many.
At public meeting of the foreign
relations committee issues of the
league controversy started a dispute
which bordered upon an uproar and
the attack upon the Shantung pro-
vision by Senator Watson, Republi-
can, of Indiana, caused series Of
sharp exchanges.
The committees clash over the
league grew out of the examination
of Norman Davis, a financial adviser
to the Versailles peace conference,
and centered in a heated discussion
of the attitude of President Wilson
toward supplying the committee with
adequate information.
Ledge Attacks President.
Chairman Lodge, replying to a sug-
gestion that the president be asked
to come before the committee, de-
clared Mr.. Wilson never had offered
to do so and had failed to send I'M
portant information repeatedly asked
for. Senator Pittman, Democrat, Of
Nebraska, replied that in his address
to congress such an offer had been
made, but the committee majority
had ignored it. Once the subject of
the league had been raised, league
opponents gave a foretaste of what
may develop when Secretary Lansing
appears before the committee tomor-
row by keeping the witness under
running fire Of questions relating to
provisions of the covenant. 1t was
when Mr.. Davis declined to pose as
an expert on the subject, in reply to
a question, suggested that the presl-
dent be consulted, that the committee
members clashed over Mr.. Wilson's
course in the matter.
Under present plans the question
ing of the Secretary of State tomor-
row will be in open session and it is
expected he will be asked to disclose
many features of the Versailles ncgo-
tiations, with the. league covenant
and the Shantung provision occupy
ing a prominent place in the discus
sions. The senate adjourned tonight
until Thursday so tomorrow's COM
mittee session may not be interrupt
ed.
Senator Watson in his speech de-
clared the treaty provision giving ia
pan control in Shantung province
''was as monstrous proposition as
has ever been proposed to civiliza-
tion," and said he could not vote for
ratification if the Shantung section
remained unamended and if Japan
gave no more definite promise Of re-
storing the province to China. In re-
ply to a question from Senator Bor-
ah, Republican, of Idaho, as to what
sort of declaration from Japan would
be satisfactory, the Indiana senator
said it would have to be one provld-
ing for withdrawal of japanese forces
prior to the senate's action on the
treaty.
Wrong Heaped Upon Wrong.
Japan's claim to the province, Mr..
Watson asserted, was based ON one
wrong heaped upon another, while
the history of Jananese interests in
China gave the lie to Japan's protes-
tations of good faith in her promise
to withdraw.
Senator Hitchcock, Democrat, OF
Nebraska, asked to what court China
could bring her claims should the
treaty and the league Of nations fail!
In that case, Mr.. Watson replied, Chi
ma would have to fall back on the
moral support she had always re-
,eived here and elsewhere in past
Tines "when we had an American for
president who thought IF America
irst."
Senator Lodge said he understood
hat within two hours Of the signing
If the treaty at Versailles the Chi
1ese delegates had offered to sign if
assured they would have the right to
BRING the Shantung case before the
eague later, but that ''even that was
denied to them"
Treaty With France.
The objection that the SPECIAL de-
fensive treaty with France violates
the Federal Constitution by binding
congress to declare war in certain