The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-19
WARNS SENATE
JAPAN MAY GO
TO WAR WITHUS
Thomas f. Millard Testifies
to Belief in Secret Treaty
to Keep Shantung.
URGES INQUIRY OF FRANCE
Believes Pending Alliance Pro-
vides Opportunity for Uncov-
ering Hidden Pledge.
URGES INQUIRY OF FRANCE
Special Dsspdfch to TIE SUI.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 1s-As matters
in the Far East are moving now there
LIS serious prospect Of war between the
United States and Japan. Much could
be done to prevent such clash IL the
Senate, before ratifying the peace
treaty. would induce the State Depart
ment to make categorical inquiries of
the British and French Governments
concerning their secret engagements
with Japan.
This was the highly significant fea-
ture of the testimony by Thomas F.
Millard. an authority on Far Eastern
matters. before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee to-day.
Mr.. Millard's proposal for prevent
ing a war that otherwise he regarded
as very probable is to have some dip
lomatic trading done now while there
is chance to make q trade.
President Wilson has brought home
from Europe" he said, "the draft of
a special treaty of alliance with France.
It's object is to insure the balance of
power in Euurope by an agreement of
tho United States and Great Britain
to assist France in case she Is the OBJ
ject Of German aggression. am not
a cynic, but know the methods and
machinery of international politics.
The European States want our ad-
hesion to that agreement in order to
Insure the safety Of European peace
for the future Very well. That makes
the present the psycholosically correct
moment for US to demand something
iE return.
Alleges Secret Agreement.
Let the State Department at the re-
quest OF the Senate call on the British
and French Governments for informa-
ton concerning any as yet unpublished
engagements between France and Brit
ain on one side and Japan on the other
whereby France and Britain are bound
to support Japan hereafter In her efforts
to retain her position in Shantung in
stead of returning the Shantung rights
to China, as she agrees in the treaty.
There Is much reason to believe that
such secret engagements have been
made
II the State Department knows moth
Ing of them, let the Senate request that
It categorically question the French and
British Governments and induce them to
disclose the facts. Let It be understood
that our disposition toward the Franco
American pact to maintain the European
balance Of power will depend very large
iy on their attitude regarding the Far
East. They want something from us at
this time. Get from them in exchange
the pledge that IL in future a conflict
arises In the East over the settlement of
the great Issues that are developing
there they will take our side of It That
Ii the method OF practical world poll
tics. That could be done without chang
Ing a word in the treaty, without an in
depreciation of reservation.
Obtain these pledges and we would
be insured that IL ever the time came for
Japan TO decide whether she would exc
cute her ultimate policy OF remaining in
China she would realize that she was
confronted by an overwhelming force
and that 1t would not do to repudiate
her agreements as to Shantung."
signs of Another Great War.
Twice in the course OF his five hour ex-
animation by the committee Mr. Millard
found occasion to tender this suggestion
and almost begged that II be acted on.
He nainted a striking Dicture of Ear
Eastern conditions, OF the certainty that
they tended toward ultimate conflict
there, OF the danger that such a conflict
would involve the three -fifths of the
earth's population, which Is Asiatic, and
that nothing could convince japan OF
the unwisdom of aggression against
China except the realization that she
would confront an overwhelming force.
"You mean moral force?" he was
asked.
IT mean physical force" was the reply
Mr.. Millard repeatedly insisted that he
had no confidence in Japan's intentions
to return Shantung to China. He told
the history OF Japanese aggression in
China step by step with good deal OF
side light from the history OF Corean-
Japanese relations.
"If Japan should not ratify the pres
ent treaty and be left free to enforce her
claims in China. would she return Shan
tunge" asked Senator McCumber IN. d..
"She would not. and she does not in
tend to anyhow" was the reply
IF she should refuse to sign the treaty
or to relinquish Shantung Is 1t con-
ceivable we would fight over the issue?"
pursued the Senator.
"Under certain conditions we might
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