New-York tribune., 1919-08-25
NesU York Tribune
Wocb ofon p.,.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 24-The deci-
sion of the Foreign Relations Commit
tee to recommend to the Senate that
the Shantung section of the peace
treaty be amended to restore German
rights at Kiao-chau to China has
awakened Administration leaders to a
realization that over this one question
the hardest fight will come in the de-
bate on the floor. Democratic leaders
are straining every nerve to tighten
their lines and hold them against pas
sage of the amendment in the upper
house.
There is no expectation that the Re-.
publicans of the Foreign Relations
Committee will run amuck following
their success with shantung and at
tempt to write half q dozen amend
ments to the Paris document. On the
other hand, no further textual changes
are likely, as the committee is intent
on carrying through the original Lodge
programme, consisting of one amend
ment-on Shantung-and four reser-
vatlons. virtually those suggested by
Elihu Root. The committees action on
the Shantung amendment opens the
way to adoption of the full Lodge pro-
gramme.
Other Amendments Futile
eOther amendments to the treaty
doubtless will be offered, however. re-
gardless of their chances of success. It
Is believed that there are not enough
votes behind any other one proposed
r "a fn !.
tee. Senator johnson will offer ONE
amendment to give the United States
equal representation in the league as
sembly with Great Britain. Senator
Fall has several in mind to alter the
personnel Of committees set up by the
treaty in such way as to remove all
Americans from their membership.
Among the first of the efforts of the
administration in its attack on the
Shantung amendment is an interview
with Senator McCumber, given out to-
Peace, in which the North Dakotan de-
fends his vote in committee when he
sided with the Democrats against his
party colleagues. His statement reads.
in part;
the Shantung amendment because, un-
der the covenant and treaty as it
stands, all the nations Of the world in
Joining it agree no longer to rob
China. For this and other reasons as
good | believe in the early ratification
OF the instrument unchanged, because
it substitutes justice for war in set
tling international disputes and right
ing international wrongs, of which
China has suffered many.
to the territory She She holds oI Ut It as part part
of the results of the war until it's
disposition is decided by this treaty.
Japan's Promise Definite.
Second. Japan has promised pub
licly in her treaty with China to sur
render the leasehold right over this
territory which Germany held under
its treaty with China, not at some in
definite future time, not thousand
years hence, but as soon as Japan has
acquired these rights under the pend
ing treaty.
Third. Japan renewed this promise
at Paris through its mission and has
repeated tho promise to the President
of the United States, who has everv
reason 10 believe that Japan will scru-
pulously. keep her pledged word. l
| agree absolutely in this belief and
faith of the President in the sincerity
of Japan.
Fourth. If Japan should fail to keen
the treaty with China, then under the
preamble of the league, which provides
that all joining it shall maintain "a
scrupulous respect for all treaty obli-
gations,' China can go before the coun-
Gil Of the league. and all the nations of
the world will unite to force Japan to