The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-07-18
Illinois Republican Urges
Senate to Refuse Accep-
tance of Shantung Provi-
sion.
.TREACHERY BEHIND
MOVE POINTED OUT
Japs Might Try Like Ger
many for World Empire
Mr.. Sherman said in Ad-
dressing Senate.

Washington, July 17.-Urging the
senate to refuse acceptance of the
Shantung provision in the peace
treaty. Senator Sherman, republican,
of Illinois, declared today that the
section giving Japan control of Shan
| tung peninsula so taints and poisons
the professed altruism with which the
League of Nations was heralded as to
crown it the superlative treachery in
| the history of modern times.
The provision, asserted the speaker,
would aid Japan in becoming the
saber rattler of the world, and
strengthen her for the day when she
might try, like Germany, for world
empire. In such an eventuality. he
continued, and with British and Japa-
nese interests in the Orient, "identi-
caP' the Unleed States might well look
to the safety of the Philippines.
why China should be exploited
he said, "her territory absorbed in the
guise of leaseholds, her port cities
dominated by alien powers, her min
ing and railway rights seized by ia
pan, does not appear except under
the rule OF covetous desire coupled
with military force.
at is material to notice under -he
Japanese constitution the emperor has
the supreme command OF the army
and navy. declares war, makes peace
and concludes treaties The kaiser
could do no more in the days he mem
aced Europe and the world. 1t is as
plain as the MONDAY sun that the
Japanese government is autocratic
and that it will add Chinese PROVING
upon province, concession upon con-
cession, until an Asiatic kaiser Will
dominate the affairs of Asia and the
Pacific ocean.
''In 1897 Germany. processing to be
exasperated by the murder of two ex-
lied German missionaries by ignorant
fanatics in Shantung, sent Germany
war ships to the bay, bombarded the
ports, landed troops and occupied the
territory. In settlement she compelled
the Chinese government to sign a 80
year lease with concession for railway
building and mining. mere lease
of property by Cne government TO
another does not divest the lesser
government of sovereignty of the ter
ritory so leased. Japan entered the
war for the expressed purpose of driv-
ing the Germans out the leased ter
ritory. The expulsion of Germany
gave Japan no sovereign rights there
which she has since assumed.
THE harshness of Japanese occupa-
tion, the cruelties inflicted on the
helpless inhabitants, the seizure of
property and the resulting looting, ir-
resistibly turn ones thoughts 10 the
German conduct in Belgium, denounce
one in unmeasured terms. We are
II
clare it justified in a holy cause.
Japan intends, we are told, in a
limited time to withdraw from Shan
tung and return that country to the
Chinese. In every instance in which
Japan has pledged herself on the con-
tinent of Asia to occupy temporarily,
she has made that occupancy perma-
nent
The United States exercises SOW
ereignty in the Philippines. Japan's
expansion is seaward as well as land
ward. Her ambition covers the Pa
cific ocean as well as the Asiatic
mainland. With Germany in perpet-
ual intrigue. it is no far influence
that a practical partition resulting
from a union of those two powers in
Europe and Asia is no Impossible
event.
Japan assumes sovereign rights
over Chinese territory. Mere refine
ment of language or specious inter-
pretation will not remove this impend-
ing truth. Japan will not surrender
this advantage so gained. Article X
and the portion OF the treaty relating
to Shantung are two brothers of a
common iniquity. They speak the
language OF a joint outrage and bear
all the evidence of deliberate pre-
arranged conspiracy.
Great Britain bore a large part in
the war. The life blood of Great
Britain is her foreign trade. We are
without adequate experience in TO-
eign trade. We are upon the thresh-
hold of that experiment. Great Brit
ain is keenly observant of our course
She has been void OF sentiment and
of humanity in breaking
down and destroying her rivals.
I'VE have denied Japan the right
Of immigration for her subjects. Ic
is a wound to their pride. We arr
in the Philippines. Our
great friend lies beyond in the people
of the Chinese republic. In our day
Of peril it must be remembered thar
the interests OF Great Britain and
ia D&> - lle Orient are identical.