Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1919-05-08
Wilson Consents to Compromise
on the Japanese Claims to
Rights in shantung.
GERMANS ARE in VERSAILLES
Meet Representatives of the Allies and
Present credentials-Plan for Try
ing Former Kaiser - Great
Bomb Plot in America At
tributed to Radicals.
By EDWARD w. PlckARp.

In the interest of an early peace and
of the successful organization of the
League of nations, President Wilson re-
laxed last week somewhat from his
hitherto uncompromising attitude in
the matter Of secret treaties and self
determination. AS result the contro-
versy over Kiau-Chau and the Shan
tung peninsula was ended in favor Of
Japan, which is to get all the old Ger
man concessions and grants. The Chi
nese delegation argued and protested
in vain, and there was an intimation
that, though it would not withdraw
from the conference, it would appeal
to the United States senate.
Viscount Chinda successfully object
ed to the publication of the treaty of
1915 which was imposed on China, and
the two countries will be left to agree
on the, details Of carrying out that
pact and the agreement of 1918. The
understanding is that the city Of Kiau-
Chau will be given back to China, but
that Japan will retain the port privi-
leges. More important are the rights
Japan obtains in the Shantung district,
including the most valuable railway
and mineral concessions.
Since Great Britain virtually refused
to support the American contention in
favor of China and evidently intended
to stand by her Japanese alliance, and
as Japan made it clear that If her de-
mands were rejected she would not re-
main in either the peace conference
or the league of nations there was
nothing for Mr.. Wilson to do but
yield, and thus one of the most serious
disputes of the conference was settled.
The American delegation considered
the agreement the best possible to be
obtained, and confidence is felt that
the league Of nations will be able to
protect China's rights fully in the fu-
ture. The Japanese military forces
are to be Withdrawn from Shantung as
speedily as possible.
If the Italianscontroversy can be set
tied as well as this, the peace makers
may certainly congratulate themselves
but at this writing the end of that dis
Dute is not in sight. The Italian dele
CATION, returning home, was accorded
wildly enthusiastic receptions every
where, and the parliament gave Pre-
mier Orlando vote of confidence only
small group Of Socialists opposing
1t was expected that Orlando and his
colleagues, strengthened by this VOTE
would go back to Paris and resume
their efforts to put through the Italian
claims; but Wilson, Lloyd George and
Clemenceau, according to reports, were
as firm rs ever in the determination
that Fiume should not be given to
Italy. The probable outcome, it was
predicted, would be the International
zation of that port.
In his memorandum to Orlando, Mr..
Wilson said the town of Volpna should
belong to Italy, and this has raised
another row. Volpna is an Albanian
port, and the Albanian delegation said
Its seizure by Italy would start a move
ment that would mean the dismember-
n.ent Of Albania. Already the Greeks
and Serbians were claiming parts Of
that country, because of Mr.. Wilson'S
stand concerning Volpna.
Among the minor difficulties Of the
peace conference was protest by the
Belgian delegates against the indem-
aity arrangements. 1t had been pro-
vided that Belgium should receive
$5OO,0O0.0O0 as part of the five bill
lions that Germany is to be required
to pay by the end of next year. This
was unsatisfactory to the Belgians be-