The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-07-19
Republicans Assert That Allies
Bought japanese Support With
Chinese Territory
CONTROL OF SHANTUNG
PRICE PAID
Treaty Debate in Senate Grows
More Bitter and Partisan AS
It Proceeds

Washington, July 15.-The stormy
senate fight over the peace treaty
shifted away from the league Of na-
tions covenant today and broke with
a new fury about the provision giving
Shantung peninsula TO Japan.
In five hours Of debate the treaty
opponents charged in bitter terms that
the Tokyo government had wheedled
Shantung from China at the peace
table without the shadow OF a cause
except the ambition of conquest, aad
supporters Of the treaty defended the
course of President Wilson in the
negotiation by declaring the only 9TH
er alternative was failure Of the whole
peace conference.
Chairman Lodge Of the foreign re-
lations committee declared Shan.uas
was "a price paid for Japan's ac-
ceptance Of the league of nations. Sell
ator Norris, Republican, Nebraska
charged that Japan in 1917 secretly
had inveigled the European allies
into promise to support her Shan
tung claims. Senator Borah. Reolth-
iican, asserted that if the United
States must either underwrite the
Shantung agreement or accept the
challenge OF another power the coun-
try would choose the latter course.
- Senator Hitchcock, Nebraska. rank
ing Democrat of the committee, re-
piled that the German rights i'll Sha,i-
tuug were obtained legally by treaty,
in 1898, and were won fairly from.
Germany by Japan long before :ha
Enited States entered the war Sena-
tor. Williams, Democrat, Mississippi,
sam the president had. to accept the
Shantung settlement or come hhni.
Without a general treaty Of peace and
that Japan never would give UP ,he
war
In the end the senate adopted With
out record vote resolution by Sen
ator Lodge asking the president for
any available information about Sc
cret treaty alleged to have been Eeso-
tiated between Japan and Germany IN
1913 embodying plan for Russian re-
habilitation and promising Japans
:; indirect protection Of German inter
ests at the Versailles negotiations.
A sweeping request fer information
about the converse ticns at Versailles
also was sent to the White House BY
the foreign relations committee. which
adopted resolution by Senator
Johnson, Republican, California. call
ing for all proposed drafts Coz q
league covenant. for the reports OF the
arguments relativeN to the league and
for .all data bearing upon or used IN
connection with the treaty Of peace.
At its meeting the committee began
the reading of the treaty covering IN
less than two hours about one-fiftli
OF its section but passing over for
future considera ton the lesue CO.
yenant, the boundaries of Germany
and many minor provisions. The
reading will continue at Ions session
tomorrow, the senate having. adjourn
ed tonigh. until Thursday so that
the committee would not be inter
rupted in its work. There was no dis
cussion of President Wilson'S offer TO
consult with the committee on doubt
ful points Of the treaty, nor was any
attempt made to have the committee
open its doors to the public. It was
said these questions might not come
TO a mead for several days, after the
reading Of the document was finlShed.
There was growing conviction, how
ever, that should the president see tie
committee it will be at the Wa te
House and not at the committee
room.
oT3r -. .I,o, haf Ia
support of the league had been pur-
chased by the Siantung agreement
was coupled with a warning that ia
pan was following in the footsteps Of
Germany as an empire builder.
There's another great power being
built up on the other side Of ..ile
Pacific" said the foreign relations
chairman. We are asked TO pat orr
name at the bottom OF that robhins
of China-handing over control prac-
tically Of that great province to &
pan. do not want to see my cou:l-
try's narae at the bottom of such q
thing"
Asserting that the senator's oppo5-
ing the Shantung settlement never n21
raised their voices against German: S
acquisition of the Shantung right n
1898, Senator Hitchcock declared the
only legal objection to Japan's t:.:e
TO those rights had been removed IL
the treaty of 1915 by which China HX-
pressly cancelled a stipulation that
Shantung never should pass TO :i':d
power except by consent Of the PEEK
ing government With this treaty :ni
with Japan's seizure of the terri so.,!:;'
from Germany. Mr.. Hitchcock sad.
Chna's claim to it terminated.
When it was objected that the 49,
treaty was imposed upon China by
force, Senator Williams. another
member OF the foreign relations com
1nittee replied:
$50 vas our treaty with Mexico in
posed by force. So is this present
treaty. Do you want to repudiate a