The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-22
Shantung Question
Agitates Europe
All Eyes Fixed Upon United
States, Eagerly Awaiting
Action by the Senate.

Paris. July 21-The tremen-
dous opposition In the United
States TO the Shantung settlement
contained In the peace treaty is
making its effect felt upon the
peace congress. 1t may lead to
complete reconsideration Of the
whole subject.
Inc letter which General Tasker
Bliss wrote to President Wilson on
the Shantung question at the time II
was finally settled by the peace con.
gress. and which was endorsed by
secretary OF State Lansing and Henry
"hite. was not a protest in the ac-
ceP,ed sense of that term, it was
learned on the highest authority to-
oaF. out was in the nature of a
memorandum for which Mr.. Wilson
nao asked. The text or purport OF
tnls memorandum remain secret. but
no coubt exists in weil-infornned
quarters that its sense was against the
settlement as finally agreed upon.
Dipiomats here will no. discuss the
!etters contents but prefer to wai,
for President Wilson to release the
memora ndunl for publication il he de-
sires to do so.
Both British and French n..o.
quarters are watching with keen in
states against the Shantung settle
Hent. and while the general belief
seems To be that the matter will be
smoothed over somehow. many peace
omcial realize that the controyersr
IS not without danger to the relations
between the United States and japan.
1t should be said in this con-
vention. however that the con-
sensus OF European military ex-
perts is that Japan is IN no mood
20 provoke or attack the United
states after the marvellous show
ing America has made upon Eu-
ropean battlefields
1t Is known that japanese military
experts watched Americas military
progress closely and that thew were
more than impressed by the efficiency
OF our army and navy.
The question as to whether Japan
was about TO come to an understand
ing with Germany has never been
satisfactorily explained here
Meanwhile the dramatic STAND
BY the young Chinese diplomats here
IN refusing to sign the peace treaty
without reservations is beginning to
nave an effect upon the minds Of
many ofncials here.
At the time Of the refusal all minds
were SO preoccupied with other
~eighty matters that it was scarcely
realized what II meant, but the after
View taken Of 1t now. together with
the opposition reported from the
United States have forced the whole
question to the foreground.
The belief prevails In diplomatic
circles that the British view synpa
thetically the question to the shan
tung settlement in America and some
students OF Britain's foreign policy
are quite frank to express the thought
that England would be more than
glad TO see the United States tackle"
Japan.
It is well-known fact that Japan
has practically wiped British com,
merce OF the Pacific coast.
Japan in many fields is underselling
England today and she Ia SO far
ahead OF England in commercial pre-
paredness in the Pacific that Great
Britain's firms are seriously alarmed
England. 1t is understood. is forced
by her pre-war promises to Japan to
agree to the Shantung settlement as
II stands. On the other hand 1t is be-
lieved she would be- glad to get out
OF the situation il she can do it grace
fully.
France is not seriously interested in
the Eastern question at the present
time. the French public mind being
absorbed by the German problem.
The Chinese peace oficials are
manifestly pleased at the opposition
in America to the ShantunE settle-
ment and are beginning to view the
future OF their case more hopefully.
They place strong reliance in their
relations with America and In the
open door" policy so steadfastly
championed by the United States.