The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-09-05
SHANTUNG ISSUE
AS TREATY TEST
Senate Committee Clips United
States From Score of Peace
Commissions.
FALLS AMENDMENTS ADOPTED
Would Exclude America From Settle
nent Of European Questions.
Dozen Republican Votes Will
Beat Shantuna Amendment.

washington.-Th Senate Foreign
Relations Committee adopted fifty
amendments TO the treaty of peace
with Germany. proposed by Senator
Fall. Of New Mexico.
Two Of the amendments were adopt
ed by rollcall and then on suggestion
Of Senator Hitchcock the remaining
forty-eight were covered by a blanket
motion. On all the committee stood
9 to for adoption.
The effect OF the amendments is 10
deprive the United States OF repre-
Sentatiyes on the various international
commissions set Up by the peace
treaty. which the five principal pow
er< would control The PREPARATIONS
commission is one of the few not
touched by the Fan amendments.
The move was frankly recognized by
both Republicans and Democrats in
the senate as a drive on the treaty
Itself. The Democrats said the coun
Try would be impatient of such tactics
ard would believe the Republicans
were merely trying to kill the treaty.
The Republicans on the committee de-
clared that the committee action would
demonstrate 70 the country the in
ternational complications involved In
the treaty and would cause waken-
ing Of interest in this phase of the
subject.
There is no present prospect Ct the
amendments being approved by the
senate Practically all Of the mild
reServationIsts' are opposed TO them,
and a large number Of other Repub-
licans. who are solidly behind the
Root reservations, and even behind
Shantung.
Debate conferred entirely on Shan
tung. Senator McCumher making a set
speech defending every phase Of the
Shantung section, defending Japan for
her attitude and even defending Bal
four and yiviani, the British and
French High Commissioners TO this
country just after the United States
entered the war, Cor not telling the
President about their secret agree
ments with Japan as % Shantung.
Senator Hitchcock. leader of the ad
ministratiOn forces. predicted. after
conference with President Wilson. that
the treaty would he ratified before the
end of September without amend
ments. He expressed belief that the
Shantung amendment. as passed in
committee. would be beaten. with the
aid of at least twelve Republican votes
The senate. he said. would not so
change the treaty as to send il back To
Paris for renegotiation.
I'VE are satisfied" said Senator
Hitchcock. that the Shantung amend
ment will be substantially beaten.
There will be at least a dozen Repub-
liean votes against it. Senator Nc
Cumber put the nail in It's coffin in
his speech today"
Representatives of the two sides in
the controversy over the Shantung
amendment made sharply contrasting
statements.
Senator Hitchcock. speaking for the
administration, said that adoption
would mean the rejection of the treaty
anu me leds ue 81 IdE as the ll[el
States was concerned, since Britain.
France, Italy and Japan all would re-
fuse to accept it. This would leave the
United States without a treaty with
Germany and with Japan hostile.
In, say. ten years Germany might
demand Of the United States payment
for the hundreds Of millions of Ger
man property seized by this country.
pointing out that she never declared
war on the United States. hut this
country declared war on her She
would be backed in that demand for
reparation ny Japan. which would still
he harhoring q grudge because of
United States action on Shantung.
The present treaty validateS all the
acts of the Alien Property Custodian.
Therefore, he holds up the Shanrung
amendment as virtually IN attempt AT
nothing less than % kill the treaty.
which would be accompanied by dire
consequences.