Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-07-15
SHANTUNG CAUSE IS

tRre Of peer, weak, downtroddca Caina
pleading before the great world tribunal
fer justiee.-yes fer merey-plezding 10
be saved the kumi6ation Of Turning
over thirty.six millioss Of her people.
her industries. her holy land, the sacred
dust of her ancestors, 10 the eoatrol and
government Of the one nation Of an the
earth she feared the most.
And this We are asked 70 approve
By ratifieation ef the treaty. We arc
sow expected to add to this intcrna.
tional crime by giving senatorial ap
provai to this in just iudgmeat." "
Secret Agreement Charged.
Norris then teld the story OF an al.
legged secret agreement between Japan
ard the allies for the partioaing of Of
China, quoting correspondence between
British, French and Italian oiplomsts
and the Japanese government on the
sabjeet.
Thus, he said, "while the allies
were trying to get China into the war
50 that they could get German ships in
Chinese harbors, they were secretly
plotting her destruction as soon as the
war was over. It was agreed that after
they had got out Of China all they
wanted, England would assist Japan az
the council table in her claims against
China.
| do not believe there is recorded
an instance Of a more disgraeefsl ard
dishonorable agreement to carve up the
territory, not of an enemy, but Of an
allied friend.
Correspondence Cited.
50 If this is a sample Of the Justice
that win come of the league Of nations,
then what can weak and unarmed m.
tions expect This secret agreement en-.
tered into by the leading nations Of the
nworld ad the unjust Judgment that fol.
lowed it shocks the sensibilities Of those
who honestly want to bring about n
league of nations and causes them on
the very threshold to question and
doubt"
Following is the correspondence
which, according to Norris, preceded the
secret agreement;
" From the British minister al Toxic
to the Japanese government;
british embassy, Toxic, February
16, 1917.
"My Dear Excellency:
"With reference to the subject of our
conversation of the 27th ultimo when
your excelleney informed me Of the de.
sire Of the imperial government to re.
ceive an assurance that on the occasion
OF peace conference his Britannia mai
esty's government win support the
claims of Japan in regard to the dis.
posal of Germany's right on the Shan
tung and possessions in the islands
north Of equator, | have the honor un
der instructions received from his Bri-
fannie maiesty's principal secretary Of
state for foreign affairs, TO communi-
cate the following message from his
Britannia maiesty's government:
British Accede.
"IIis Britannia maiesty's govern.
ment aeeedes with pleasure the request
of the Japanese government for an as.
suranee that they will support Japan $
claims in regard to the disposal of Ger.
many rights in Shantung and posses
sions in the isles north of the equator
on the occasion Of the peace conferenee;
il being understood that the Japanese
government will in the eventual peace
settlement, treat in the same spirit
Great Britain's claims TO the German
islands south Of the equator
81 avail myself Of this opportunity,
M. Lc. Ministre, to renew 70 your ex
cellcncy the assurance Of my highest
consideration.
''(signedl Conyngham Green.
"llis Britannia maiesty's ambassa.
dor.
"To his cxeellcncy, Viseount lehiro
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