Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-07
AGREES SFiANTUNG CLAUSE
VIOLATES PRESIDENTS POINT
Secretary Lansing, Before Committee in
Senate, Says Treaty Substantially"
Carries Out His Principles.

Carries Out /
The opinion that the Shantung pro-
visions of the peace treaty did not
square with President Wilson's enun-
ciated principles Of self-determinatfon
was expressed by Secretary Lansing
before the Senate foreign relations
committee yesterday afternoon. The
Secretary maintained, however, that
the treaty as a whole carried out SUD-
stantially the Presidents fourteen
points.
Declaring his unfamiliarity with
many details of the peace negotla-
tions and of the treaty itself, the Sec
rotary told the committee he was
unable to answer many OF its Ques-
tons. and reminded senators In an
swering others that he merely was
expressing his own personal views.
Refers Questioners to Mr.. Wilson.
ASK the President" the Secretary
said when pressed for details OF the
tiations On three Of the points raised
he asked permission to refresh his
memory and make q statement to the
committee later, and when he was
asked for a detailed construction OF
the labor and reparations clauses he
protested that he could not be expect
ed to carry the minutes of an $4,000
word document in his mind. and re-
minded the committee it was much
easier to TASK questions prepared be-
forehand" than to answer them on
hand.
Thinks Japan Would Have Signed.
As his own personal views, Mr..
Lansing said that Japan would prob
ably have signed the treaty without
the Shantung provision that the
United states should ask no part of
the German reparation. and that the
mutual guarantee of territorial In
tegrity from external aggression, as
contained in article x of the league
covenant, imposed q moral obligation,
but not a legal one.
The Secretary said it was true that
the fourteen points had not been dis
cussed, to his knowledge. In the
preparatory stages of the peace nego-
tiations.
It was not true, Secretary Lansing
the American delegation protested
against the Shantung settlement; that
Great Britain refused to permit dis
cussion Of the freedom of the seas by
the peace conference, or that any OF
signed because they disagreed with
the decision regarding Shantung.
Asserts Common Sense" in Treaty.
The general basis on which the
treaty was framed. said the Secre-
tary, was common sense and gen.
eral principles with an avoidance of
policy and expediency." Verbatim
records Of the discussions. he told the
COMMITTEES. had been left In Paris.
adding that he would not favor Civ
ing to the Senate the less complete
transcripts in the possession OF the
State Department because 1t might
cause Irritation to other govern
ments.
league covenant, the witness said.
had been negotiated largely by the
President, who alone Of the American
delegates would be able to reveal de-
tails Of the discussions.
Asks Until Monday for Preparation
The Secretary was before the COM
mittee during the whole Of an all-day
session, and although senators appar-
emily had finished their questioning
of him when adjournment was taken
last night, it was thought likely that
other points might be brought up
when he appears again next Monday.
Mr.. Lansing asked to be given until
that time to prepare his statements In
reply to questions asked yesterday
the attitude of the United States to-
ward Japan's twenty-one demands on
China in 1915, and what part this gov
eminent took toward bringing China
into the war.
Questioned About Labor Clauses.
Questioned regarding the labor
clauses Of the treaty. Secretary Ian
sing said he did not know their
genesis or history, and was opposed
to giving snap judgment" on them.
Senator Mcc I be Iepubiica1 =. North
visions which would give the gov
erning labor body power to reject
delegates named by the United States
and place this country in an "abject"
position.
provisions were advisory. n have
yet to see anything that is COM
pulsory on the members" said the
Secretary, stating that obligations Of
the labor clause were moral. at most.
Replying to Senator Fall, repub-
n.
said that In case economic measures
were used by the league members
against q nation the latter would be
permitted to make reprisals.
Refers to Anglo-French Treaty.
Bringing up the Anglo:.French
treaty, Senator johnson asked at
whose suggestion this treaty was
made.
piled. 81 don't know II it was his
original suggestion, but I first heard
Of it from him."
Mr.. Lansing said he believed the
French treaty merely supplemented
Article Xxx Of the league Of nations
covenant treating Satan.vs with snseial Of
"Could any offensive or defensive
alliance be made under Article XXX"
asked Senator johnson.
yes; don't think that 1t affects
it." was the reply.
Mr.. Lansing's Personal View.
Senator johnson recalled Mr.. Ian
sing had stated that American peace
commissioners went on the policy
principle" and asked whether that
policy was followed as to the Shan
tung provision.
mot entirely, said Mr.. Lansing.
was the Shantung decision made
in order to have JApan's signature
to the league Of nationsT
IT really haven't the facts about
that"
Gould Japan's signature to. the
league have been obtained without
the Shantung decisionT'
II think So"
Senator johnson suggested that
had the Shantung clause not been
adopted, the treaty and league cove
nant would have had another sigma
ture.