South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-23
GERMAN POISON IN THE SENATE
AND THE SHANTUNG CONTROVERSY

That anti-Japanese propagandists in congress
fed on the pro-Gernan variety of anything to de-
tract attention from Germany, who last year and
two years before sent out campaign literature in
the German language 10 sodify the German-Am
lean vote in their behalf should be appealing
for the German American vote again by their
strenuous objection to the peace conference trans
ferring shantung from Germany japan, is not sur
prsing.
And such is about all that it amounts to when one
once understands The facts: sees the demagoguery
and camoufage The pretense that the objection to
the shantung transfer is any particular sense due
TO friendship China. It is friendship for Ger
many and nothing else. or perhaps, TO put it more
directly friendship with a liking for the German
american vote. employing the Japanese question
against which Germany has poisoned the American
mind TO the utmost.-as cats paw.
Germany acquired the shsntung peninsula. in
Guiding many business franchises as well political
control in 1895 extorting valuable concessions
as a penalty for the killing OF German mis-
sionaries by a Chinese mob. China. under cornpul-
sion signed a document leasing the peninsula 10
Germany for 80 years. subsequently Germany for
mally declared 'protectorate" Shantung built
the great stronghold OF Kiauchow and the harbor
adjoining it and proceeded to develop mines rail-
ways and other properties.
Japan entering the in 1914, announced that
her chief right this wrong by ouSting
the Germans and restoring the province China
she repeated that announcement I'm 1915. But in
1917 before the United States entered the
Japan obtained "A written agreement from Great
Britain and France permitting Japan to retain the
rights and privileges she had wrested from Germany
The Chinese government signed a treaty with Japan
agreeing to this and later declared
coerced
This was the situation when the peace conference
met Japan stood pat The American delegation is
said to have made a protracted fight get Japan
10 yield up Shantuug Immediately China accord
ing 20 her promise as understood by the world in
general Japan seems have yielded TO the extent
81 declaring informally that she would certainly
turn Shantung to China. but refused TO make
plict statement 10 that effect in the treaty
the date OF surrender
The Shantung AFFAIR handled in articles 156 Isl
and 15S the peace treaty The rst article begins:
germany reuounces. IN favor OF Japan. all
her rights. title and privieges-partcdlarly
those concerning the territory Of Kiauchow.
railways. mines and submarine cables-whtCh
she acquired in virtue Of the treaty concluded
by her with China March 6. 1895 and OF
all other arran srments relative 10 the province
of Shantung."
Then follow various details disposng OF valuable
properties and concessions Article 15s pro
vides that within three months Of the time the
present treaty becomes effective. Germany shall
hand over to japan all the legal documents of every
kind connected with the political and business ad-
ninistraton Of the territory Of Kiauchow
It Is evident from all this that the peace con-