The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-22
WILLIAMS TELLS ABOUT TREATY
 ON SHAkTUkG Was Technical Adviser To American Peace
 Delegates. EXPERT ON FAR
 EASTERN AFFAIRS Resignation Not Due To Opposition on the Settle
 ment.

Washington, Aug. 22--A first hand story of the negotiations which re- suited in the treaty provision giving Japan control fin Shantung provinaa. China. was told to the Senate For eign Relations Committee today by Prof. F. T. Williams, formerly the State Departments expert on Far Eastern affairs, who acted as a tech nical adviser to the American peace delegates.
 Professor Williams said he had "objected very strongly" to the shan tung settlement, but that his resigna.- ton from the peace commission had not been due to his opposition.
 On April 22. the witness said, Pres ident Wilson sent for him and asked him which of the proposed alterna- tives would be less injurious to China the transfer of the German shan tung rights to Japan, or insistence on the execution of Japan's treaty with China growing out of the famous 21 demands of 1915.
 "I replied" continued Professor Williams, that I hoped neither course would be found necessary. The President said that unfortunately Great Britain and France were bound by certain engagements with Japan to support Japan's claims in shan tung and that Lloyd George said he would bow only on the consideration that the 1915 treaty was executed.
 The President added that the war seemed to have been fought to estab' fish the sanctity of treaties and while some of them were unconscionable, 1t looked as though it would be neces- sary to recognize them"
 The witness said he suggested that since the 1915 treaty was exacted by force 1t ought not to be binding, but that the President replied Japan might not be willing to recognize ter ritory made by force. Prof. Williams suggested that the treaty have blanket provision that all German property in China should be turned over to China and that any rights taken from Germany by Japan should be returned to China within ons year.
 Later the expert advisers of the British French and American delega- tions joined in a memorandum saying that transfer of the German Shantung rights to Japan would be the more desirable of the two courses suggested. Professor Williams and McClay. a 6TlIlSn expert JOlHtu III sst ihtlilOi d - dunn saying China ought not be com pelled to accept either alternative.
 ''I asked the President" said Will lams whether the proposed settle ent was not contrary to his IA point and he said that unfortunately he didn't think there was anything in the IA points exactly covering the case. Later called attention to his Mount Nernon address which seemed to GOV er the matter"
 Did the President make any re- ssponse?" asked Senator Johnson, Republican, California
 q only received a note from the Presidents secretary thanking me for the memorandum"
 Two days later Professor Williams said he was informed of the decision taken, adding that pr s. K. Horn- beck, the other American adviser on Far Eastern affairs, had concurred in objecting. but that he did not file a protest after the decision was an nounced.
 Asked whether his resignation wat due to any particular reason" the witness replied:
 .eNo. My leave of absence from the University of California was about to expire. I would have come home fr any case"
 In reply to question g to what effect the Shantung decision might have in China, Professor Williams said:
 "I felt it would raise a strong pro- test from China and was tending tC strife rather than to peace. I felt il was also injurious to our own inter ests as China had entered the war un' der our advice and that by the trans fer of these rights to Japan we would lose prestige in the Far East
 My own opinion is that the deci sion was m unfortunate one, tha the leased territory of Kiao Chow and the railways and mines of shan tung ordinarily would have gone C China at the conclusion of peace that they had been taken from Chin' by force and by an act of piracy.
 "I haven't tho slightest Gu:tbt tha Japan will carry out her promise. bu the promise is very unsatisfacter- because when the 99 years lease ex pires she retains control of the DOT of Tsing-Tao so that there virtuall will be nothing to hand back"