New-York tribune., 1919-10-16
Pledges by Thomas, Shields,
Colt, Spencer and Lenroot
Makes Its Adoption Ger
tai,s. but Beat Amendment
Action Probable To-day
Johnson Not to Speak for
His Equal-Vote Proposal;
Senate in All-Day Debate
By Carter Field
Nctc York Tribune
Wnsb;rOtO11 R1irrnu

NGW York ITtbune
Washir oton Btredu
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.--Adoption
of reservation to the peace treaty
declaring that the United States dis
approves the Shantung provs-
ion transferring the German con-
cessions in that province to
Japan was assured in tho Senate to-
dav when five Senators who are op-
posed to the Shantung textual amend
ment announced they would support
a reservation. These Senators were
/ Thomas and Shields. Democrats, and
/ Colt, Spencer and Lenroot, Republi-
cans.
BY the same evidence the defeat OF
the Shantung amendment was assured.
Besides the Republican Senators just
named. Senator's McCumber, McNary,
Nelson, Hale and Kellogg are expected
to vote against the amendment, 80 it
is doubtful if the amendment musters
more than forty votes.
1t was expected that vote would
be reached before the recess tonight,
but that became obviously impossible
when, at o'clock. there still were
many Senators who desired to speak,
Johnson Not to Speak
Hope for the vote was engendered
on the return of Senator Hiram John
son this morning, day before he
was expected. Mr.. Johnson, his
friends had thought, would wish to
speak on the amendment, but he told
his colleagues no would not There
upon every effort was made to get a
vote, until the length Of the speeches
and the number of speakers made it
impossible.
4 feature of the debate over the
amendment, which lasted all dav. and
which it is hoped will conclude with
vote tomorrow, was that no one
made any defence OF the settlement
as arranged IN the peace treaty.
Senators opposing the amendment
merely stated that it would not prove
effectual IN restoring the Shantung
concessions to China, but merely
would result in defeating the treaty,
so far as the United States was con-
cerned. They declared that the
amendment could not be accepted by
the other powers because Britain.
France and Italy are all bound by
treaties to stand by Japan in this mat
ter.
Dcnounce Secret Treaties
Senators making this argument we're
Just as strenuous in declaring the gift
of these German concessions to japan
to be crime against an ally as were
those advocating the amendment. They
were just as vigorous in denouncing
the secret treaties which were con-
cealed from the United States, but
which bound England and France and
Italy. But neither an amendment nor
d reservation would change that, they
said
The reservation, it is expected,
viii be passed because the group which
holds the balance of power believes
that 81 reservation VIII at least re-
move all blame for the situation from
the United States and prevent this
country from "holding a lantern while
the burglary is being committed" as
Senator Borah commented in col
loauy with Senator Lenroot
"There is this difference between a
reservation and an amendmcnt," Sena-
tor Lodge broke in vigorously at this
point 'If we adopted The Shantung
amendment the powers would be COM
PEELED to accept it or reject It. IF
they accepted it Shantung would be
restored 10 China. If they rejected
it the United States would be left out
of the league OF nations. SO that they
would have to choose between us and
Shantung.
Says Powers Will Accept
ri say Chat the Senator Mr.. Len
root Will never see in his lifetime
and no Senator IN this body viii see
IN his lifetime the day when the pow
ers Of Europe refuse to permit the
United States to enter this treaty on
any terms she pleases. We can write
this treaty as we think to be right
and they will accept it. That is Why
1T behooves US to proceed carefully
The league of nations will be q mere
house Of cards without the United
States, and nobody knows that better
than these same European powers"
Senator Owen to-day offered the nrst
proposal 20 obtain an amendment tc
the league OF nations covenant after
the Cnitcd States has entered the
league by ratifying The treaty. Mr
Owen opposes all amendments to the
treaty and ali reservations which
would be a part Of the ratification
resolution.
His move was not considered impor-
tant by opponents Of the treaty OF
friends Of reservations to-day since
they assert that the hardest thing on
earth to 90 would be 20 obtain an
amendment sitter the league had been
organized, owing to the necessity for
the consent OF every member Of the
council. The amendment desired by
Mr.. Owen would accomplish self de-
termination for the small nations.
Shields for Amendment
T aside from the developmcnts on
>oantune the feature Of the day was
The declaration Of Senator Shields. of
l Tennessee, thai lie would vote for the
Johnson amendment Senator Shields