Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-07-23
Shantung Was Japanese Pact
Price, Lodge Declares.
SAYS CHINA WAS ROBBED
Adopts Resolution Asking the Presi-
dent for Information as to an Al
legged Treaty Negotiated Be-
tween Japan and Germany.

tor Lodges resolution asking the pres
ident for information as to an alleged
treaty negotiated between japan and
Germany in 1918. The senate then adj
journed until Thursday.
Senator Lodge charged in the senate
during debate on the peace treaty,
that the Shantung settlement was "a
price paid" for Japan's signature to
the League of Nations, with the rob-
bling of China as the consideration.
"Shantung was the price paid, and
all the world knows it," Mr.. Lodge
said. There is no statute of limita-
lions that runs against wrong like
that"
Handed over Against Protests.
Reciting how Germany secured the
Shantung concessions and how Japan
succeeded Germany by virtue of war,
Senator Lodge continued:
England and France took Belgium
away from Germany during the war.
Does that give them a claim to Bel
GUM? Shantung was not enemy coun-
try like Fiume. 1t was handed over
to Japan against the protests of some
of our delegates and the experts
charged with this question.
at was handed over because ia
pans signature was needed to the
league 1t was done as a necessity.
1t takes the territory of a friend, an
ally who had been loyal, and hands it
over to a great military power in the
East.
Japan is building up great pow
er in China, and we in this treaty
are helping her do it."
The debate on Shantung was pre-
cipitated by Senator Lodge calling up
his resolution asking the president for
information as to an alleged treaty Sc
cretIy negotiated between Japan and
Germany in 1918.
Senator Hitchcock (Neb.), senior
Democrat of the committee, said he
desired to protest against resolutions
of this class, based upon such slender
Information and having the effect of
indicating to a friendly country that
the United States senate gives ere
dence to newspaper reports of this
character.
at is unworthy of the senate" he
declared.
Senator Lodge replied that it seemed
to him that when we are making q
treaty that includes the gift to Japan
OF 36,OO0000 of Chinese we ought to
know whether there is any truth in
the assertions.
at has been stated that copy Of
the treaty is in the hands of the state
department and has been for some
time. I think it perfectly reasonable
that we inquire about it." he declared.
Declares Treaties "Extorted."
Senator Hitchcock said it was well
known that German rights in Shan
tung were obtained in the treaty of
1898, recognized by all the world.
Senator Lodge replied that the 1898
treaty bad been "extorted" from
China by a German fleet. while Sena-
tor Norris asserted that by this agree
ment it was stipulated that the Ger
man rights in Shantung could not be
transferred to any other nation with
out China's consent.
"China gave that consent" said Sem
ator Hitchcock, "by the treaty of
1915"
= "And that treaty was forced from
her, and everybody knows il" returned
Senator Norris.
When Senator Hitchcock declared
that whatever China lost by the Yer
sailles treaty, she gained something
more valuable than all else, protection
under article TO-" there was a hurst
of laughter on the Republican side Of
the chamber.
"Never Raised Voices"
Senators laugh" shouted Senator
Hitchcock, but they know that in
the past China has always been Ge-
spoiled, and that under article 10 she
will be protected. The same senators
who now shed crocodile tears over the
fate of China have never in all the
past raised their voices against her
spoliation."
Mr.. Lodge said that England stood
by and let Germany take Schlesw;g-
Holstein, Helgoland and other terri
tory near her door.
"She's paid the bill If those awful
Mistakes he added. "She's done it
molly. but at great cost.
There's another great power being
built up on the other side of the Pa
cific We are asked to put our ap-
proval at the bottom of that robbing
of China-handing over control prae-
tically of that great province to Japan.
/ do not want to see my country's
name at the bottom of such a thing"