The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-10-04

American independence, which would
PROFESSIONALLY be promptly accepted
by the other nations"
Curiously enough these several
questions -distinctively American and
therefore presumably Of the highest
Importance to this country-have tenn
porarily been lost sight Of in a burst
Of senatorial indignation over the ac-
ton of the peace conference by which
Shantung probably China's richest
province, with 36,000,000 people, the
birthplace of Confucius-is given to
Japan.
President Wilson presented the
treaty to the senate July 10. He said
that the treaty was nothing less than
world settlement and it was not pos
sible for him in his address to sum-
Marie it; he would attempt only a
general Characterization of its scope
and purpose. He offered to be at the
service of the senate or the foreign re-
lations committee. He did not mention
the Shantung provision, or the Monroe
doctrine, or our obligations under arti-
Gle x. Typical expressions of opinion
regarding his address follow:
The address" said Senator Swan
SON Democrat, Virginia, lis magnifi-
cent, able, eloquent and inspiring The
reasons presented for the ratification
of the treaty, including the League of
Nations, We're strong, cogent and I'M
/ answerable.
Soothing, Inellifliious and uniform
ing was the comment Of Senator Nc
Cornick, Illinois.
Taking its stand on President Will
sons principle of open covenants
openly arrived at" the senate commit
tee on foreign relations to consider the
peace treaty met Monday. Senator
Johnson, California, brought forward
a resolution embodying a demand for
data of every character relating to the
treaty and its formulation 1t called
for the suppressed plan for a League
of Nations submitted to the peace con-
ference by President Wilson, which the
president admits was rejected in IA
vor of the British plan, and also called
for ethe stenographic reports of the
peace negotiations. 1t was adopted
Tuesday by the committee.
Tuesday, after a heated debate, the
senate without 4 record vote, adopted
Senator Lodges resolution calling on
President Wilson to submit to the SEN
ate the text of the secret treaty nego-
tlated last year by Japan and Germany
and all other data showing overtures
made by the mikado's government to
the central powers during the war.
Throughout the debate the fighting
revolyed about the Shantung incident.
Senator Lodge, Republican leader,
charged that the Shantung peninsula
was "the purchase price for Japan's
signature to the League of Nations
covenant Senator Moses of New
Hampshire, Republican member Of
the foreign relations committee, called
il "bribe," and Senator Norris of Ne
braska, Republican, denounced it as
ian outrage" and "a betrayal"
Senator Hitchcock Of Nebraska I'M
dertook to defend Japanis right to
Shantung, but Senator Williams of
Mississippi, Democratic member of the
foreign relations committee, frankly
admitted that if President Wilson had
not yielded in the Shantung affair
Japan would have broken off, from the
allies and negotiated separate treaty
with Germany. Realizing the close re-
lations between Senator Williams and
the White House, senator's attached
much Importance to the Mississippi
members statement that Japan would
never give up Shantung again without
war
IF that's the challenge we might
as well settle it now" said Senator
Borah Of Idaho, Republican.
Thursday was marked by lively SEN
ate proceedings. Senator Borah, Re-
publican Idaho, called upon the league
supporters to join him in securing a
referendum. Senator Sherman, Repub-
lican, Illinois, made an address warm
ing the danger Of war With Japan and
pointing out that such a war would
be Great Britain's opportunity to re-
gain commercial and financial suprem-
acy from us" The senate adopted Sem
ator Borah's resolution demanding the
text of the United States protest at
Paris against the Shantung award.
President Wilson, seeing the league
making no Roadway, and receiving no
invitation to appear before the foreign
relations committee, began issuing In
vitations to Republican senators to