The sun., 1919-08-24
Secret Treaties Bar to Ac-
ceptance by European
Allies.
MORE CHANGES LIKELY
Egypt and Ireland to Be
Subject of Resolutions
Next Week.
SCOTS ALSO MADE PLEA
If Senate Backs Up Committee
Separate Peace Treaty
May Be Necessary.
SCOTS ALSO MADE PLEL

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23.-Within the
peace treaty for purposes of revision.
the Senate Committee on Foreign Re
lations adopted an amendment return
ing the province Of Shantung TO China
instead of giving 1t to Japan as was
done In Paris.
1t was the first record vote on a
substantive proposition dealing with
the treaty's form. The amendment
adopted Is one which 1t is assumed
cannot possibly be accepted by the
others Of the great Powers, because
Great Britain, France and Italy are
bound by secret treaties to support
Japan's claims for this province.
Therefore, IL the Senate shall confirm
to-day's action Of the committee, the
possibility OF the United States unit
ing with the other great Powers In
the peace terms will be extremely re-
mote. A seperate peace between this
country and Germany would be the
alternative.
other Amendments Likely.
Further amendments are certain to
be proposed. one Of them now under
consideration aiming to end the
British protectorate over Egypt, which
is confirmed by the treaty. As to Ire
land. no form for amendment has
been agreed upon and 1t is not known
who will become sponsor for It; but
an amendment will be offered. II
may be merely an addition to Article
y. holding inviolate the rights Of
peoples to struggle for their independ-
ence regardless of the leagues stipu-
lation.
Among the numerous suggestions
in the discussions of the committees
action was the interesting idea that.
once the Senate should adopt the
Shantung amendment, the President
very possibly might recall the treaty.
Senators said this would be within his
powers at any time. In that case il
peace by resolution or to proceed with
negotiations direct with Germany for
1t. The suggestion was made some
days ago that In certain circumstances
the President might withdraw the
treaty and send Senators Lodge and
Knox to Berlin to negotiate a new one.
That suggestion was made a bit
quizzically and whether 1t had any
underlying significance has been
good deal debated. To-day's develop
ments brought II back to many minds
and 1t looked much more like a real
possibility.
To-day's action was effected with
sensational suddenness. Senator
Lodge (Mass) chairman, proposed
the amendment, which was adopted
without debate by a vote of to s.
All the Democrats voted against II,
and with them Senator McCumber
On. d. Republican. The votes for It
included all the other Republicans.
Reached without Division.
The action was accepted as the more
suggestive, because to act ON this
amendment at the outset the com
mittee had TO abandon the method
urged by the Democrats as logical"
OF taking up the treaty at the first
article and reading it section by sec
tion. seriatim. for amendments. Chair
man Lodge replied that all the wit
nesses on the Shantung question had
been heard, and there was no reason
why that amendment should not be
considered at the outset. Without a
division on the question. the commit
tee assented to his view and the vote
was taken.
The amazement and discontinue Of
the Administration were marked, 1t
means OF course a declaration OF
open conflict to force the rejection
of the entire treaty, said Senator
Swanson (Va).
'If the Senate should accept tho com
mittees amendment" he said. which
I do not at all believe II will do, It
means that the United States will not
be a party to the treaty that will be
ratified by the other great Powers.
"Great Britain. France and Italy are
pledged by their treaties made with Ja-
pan before she entered the war to sup
port the Japanese claims in Shantung,
and it must be assumed they will do
so. Japan will not yield her point SO
the treaty will be ratified by these coun-