The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-06
WATSON MAKES
PLEA To Reject
SHANTUNG PACT


d
WASHINGTON, Aug. g. Dcclarine'
the history on German and japanese ac'n
QUESTIONS In Shantung had been one
wrong hcapcd upon another, SENATOR
Watson, Republican. Indiana asked thel
senate today To reject that provision on
tho Versailles treaty which gives Japan
control in ShantunE Peninsula.
The original Shantung rights. Senator
Watson said, were taken from China by
Germany in 1898 through n demand on
forced by a fleet Of hattlcshipS. and had
been expanded to embrace "c0mn:"t"
economic possession Of ShantunE"
through supplemental treaties in 1899.
1900 and 1905. These expanded rights.
he sara, had been taken from Germany
IN the present war by Japan. who had
sought TO rcinforcS h"r position by a
treaty obtained by force" from China IL.
1915 and by secret agreements 'eStab-
lishcd on fraud" conSummatcd with the
allies In 1917.
Can 1t be said that faint no longer
vltiatcs titlc"" asked the Indiana scna-
tor. Docs wrong ever bccom" right?
Can duress pied upon durcss. can force
added TO force. make righteousness
holy? Can the German wrong in China.
plus the japanese wrong in China plus
the Japanese wrong with tho allies. ever
come to the full fruition OF a perfect
right?
I'VE went TO war. IN part. to undo the
wrong wrought by Germany. and surely
here Is one that enl!sts the sympathy
and challenges the attention OF our 2oun-
-, +; Lee
to pcrpetuatc one OF the most fragrant
wrongs ever committed by the agents Of
the kaiser upon a helpless and unofccnd-
ing people,"
Replying TO declarations that tho Ger
man concessions seized by Japan con-
ccrncd only a narrow strip Of territory.
Senator Watson said that nevertheless
Japan had sent military force ""utir"ly
through the province of ShanMnE." had
established railroads. mines and rarri-
sons everywhere. and now was in COM
plcte military and economic possession"
OF the whole province with its population
OF &c 100000 Chinese.
THE president recently has stated"
he continued. that Japan intends to re-
turn Shantung to China. If that be true.
why is ii not SO written in the contract:
Japan wagcd two wars with tho anuuunr
ed purpose OF insuring tho independence
Of Korea. And yet. having won in bot n
wars. she very speedily ANNEXED kor".
ann in 1910 made her n part of the Jap
ancsc empire. One Of Japan's alleged!
reasons for waging war with Russia wr-
that she wanted to save Manchuria FIR
China ManChuria is 10 all intcnts and
purposes a Japanese colony.
The whole story OF the treatment Of
China by Japan furnishes ample illu,-
tration OF the fact that japan intends
to cling 10 ShantunE and that her PRO.
testations OF good faith are not to b"
believed. Why was so monstrous 4
wrong thus recognized? Simply be-
cause It had to be done to save the
lcagu
president Wilson wanted tho league.
It was the sole object Of his going /,
France, and for it he was and is will
Ing to make great sacrifices OF either
foreign rights or American inGrpcu-
dence. Japan. seeing his attitud" took
advantage Of him and forced him t"
endorse this wrong to China 10y tho
threat that. If it were not done she would
withdraw from the conference and
would decline to ratify the league. And
he yielded and is now endcavurinE to
have our nation ratify this treaty and
condone this wrong. Japan cocrccd him
into that concession. That country sold
her signature for tho liberties Of Co.
900. 900 Of human beings. and Wilson.
Lloyd George and Clemenccau approved
the bargain and ratified the sale.
THE most remarkable tn" most IN
! dcfcnsible feature Of this entire tran
saCtion Is that, rs n result Of 4 war
said TO have been waGcd TO mako tn
world safe We democracy. We cnforcs,
! the spolation Of the only republic in
! the Orient, VIC ratify the previous rub
berry Of a friendly people by tho nation
To war to overthrow for just such acts.
and We turn the result: Of tho 1arC"Ny
over 10 the most autOCratiC EOTcrnmcr {
that now exists en- earth. the counter
part Of Germany in tic east.
And il can never be forgotten that
every nation whose representatives S"'
around the table at the peace c"nrcr"n"c
and sactioncd this oricntal--cvrry o.r.'
OF thcm--had n treaty with Chin Ia
protect the territorial integrity Of hey
| empire.
81 believe that the secret treaty mad
by Japan with the allies in 1917 should
not he countcnanccd by them or b. uS
at this time because it rests Oh wr"u.-
and is established on fraud. II Wa 4
fraud on China. because by In" terms
! Of that understanding Japan got CUM.
/ into the war. And this secret treat Y
was as well n fraud on our government.
When, by the LansinC-lshi! "grr"lr"u.
IN 1917. tho United States ra,'u:.uizrl
that -Jarar has special interests ~
China neither Pres d"nt Wilson n"'
I Secretary Lansing knew thai larrn hr',
secret treaties with tn" allies L.. IN"
terms Of winch she was - l. ii :;::rA