New Britain herald., 1919-08-25
THE SH.ANTUNG DECISION.

Committee of the United States Peace Treaty and League of Nations covenant to Congress with at least one radical change in the wording of the document itself will give rise to great deal of conjecture, not as to it's acceptance here so much as to what will be done With the Treaty after we have altered it to suit our tastes. We have it definitely stated that the committee is anxious to ab- solutely strike from the clause which has to do with Shantung the word Japan" wherever it occurs There may be further reservations, or re- modelings, but this instance forms d basis for argument. Further re- makings will but have the same effect as this one and it covers our purpose that of considering alterations. Congress has not yet passed upon the document. It is probable that minority report on the Shantung issue will be brought before it. But the possibility of a greatly changed covenant is present.
 If the United States strikes out makes void-the Shantung clause, what are we going to do about it? What are the other nations going to do about it? They have, some of
 
 League and adopted it. If we adopt @ greatly changed document how will our actions be received by others? It is obvious that changes in the docu- ment will make action upon the changed clauses obligatory for other nations, even though they approve of our plans We could not accept one set of clauses and another nation another and call it the same docu- ment. Reservations are one thing, but changes in the text of the agree ment mean different covenant. If each nation draws up a covenant for itself there will be no cooperation of nations; therefore, no Peace Treaty; therefore, no League of Nations.
 Then adoption of the League Of Nations Treaty, with the Shantung decision, reached at a conference of nations, stricken out, is a defeat for the League of Nations. Others will not accept our construction of affairs. We cannot accept theirs Result: No Treaty. We can sign the covenant according to theirs What is the use? None.
 Supposng that the Shantung agrcc- ment is recognized by all other na- tions and not by ours. Then all other nations will be willing to sign the covenant as it exists, untampered with by the Foreign Relations Committee Are they going to let us into the Lea que without our accepting what they have? Obviously not. We can not become a member of the League We can form one of our own, which will be truly a League for War; with China and possibly another nation or two which also object to the Shan- tung provision. That will be a declar- ation that we have adopted a policy that is different from that of the rest of the world and we may have to fight Japan and possibly it's treaty CO., signers to gain our ends, or lose them Providing that we wish to be bound by no treaties with anyone and merely want to keep our place here, with the | Monroe Doctrine as a constant danger 1 point against other organized nations, | what will we have 10 do then? Have l a conference with Germany, make our l own agreements with her and sign a l peace such as the two nations might agree upon. That is all. It is shortly | said, but will take much longer to ] accomplish.
 A radically amended document will 1 not be acceptable elsewhere. The 1 Senate may as well defeat the accept l ance of the entire League as make 1 changes in it. There is no other con- 1 clusion. We have to make a decision. The Senate Foreign Relations Com ,.,;++oo n, o,,, borc fol1ouyc