The daily Alaska citizen., 1919-10-29
THE FATE OF SHANTUNG
(EXchangc.)

The testimony CT 1rOI. " NlIIIalnN, oUt of the Presidents experts on Chinese af fairs at the Paris conference, reveals tho professor as a strong supporter of the Chinese position concerning Shantmg Being so close to the President as he wa, in this matter he made an interesting wit ness.
 Despite his regret that the Prcsdrur consented to the Shantmg settlement, tho professor discloses the fact that he ~iguo. memorandum in Paris. drawn up by him self with the British and French experts advising the "big four" that the transfer of Germany's Shantmg rights to Japa1 would be less injurious to China than th. enforcement of the convention of 19I5 be- tween the Chinese and Japanese govern mcnts That convention would have be0 enforced practically spcaking, had Jupa not become a signatory to the Versatile, treaty, for Japan has had physical posses sion of the German concessions iii Shan tung since the early days of the war auO there is no power that would have gone tC war with Japan in order to maintain China's claims This point was touched upon at the Tuesday conference at thD White House between the President auC the foreign relations committee:
 Senator Pomercne-Nr President il I may. I would like to ask a question ol two along the same line. If this treaty should fail of ratification. then would moi the opportunity be open to Japan to treat the Shantung question just as she h0, treated the Manchmian question!
 The Prcsident-I think so, yes
 Senator Pomercnc-So that if tbD treaty should fail of ratification, China, ~o far as Shantung is concerned, would bo practically at the mercy of Japan, where as if the treaty is ratified then at least ~hC will have the benefit of the moral assist ance of all the other signatory powers to the treaty to aid in the protection of Chin csc rights?
 The President-Scnator l conceive one of the chief benefits of the whole ar engagement that centers in the league ot nations to be just what you have indicated that it brings to bear the opinion of the world on all relationships of that hazardous sort, particularly those relation ships which involve the rights of the weak CT nations.
 Prof. Williams, who apparently would have refused to sign any treaty that did moi fully restore Shantung to China, at the same time admitted that if the Shantml settlement had not been made, Japan would have refused to sign the Versailles treaty and that an impasse would have been the result, with Great Britain and France sup porting Japan. This admission involve. the further admission that Shantung coulC have had no other fate than that of Man churia if the Versailles treaty did not haVC Japan as a signatory.
 At the White House conference witt the senate committee, Japan'S refusal tC sign the treaty unless the Shantung settle ment took the shape it did was placed be- yond further controversy in these ques tions and answers:
 Senator Brandegee-You could moi have got the signature of Japan if you haC not given Japan Shantung?
 The President-That is my judgement
 Senator Brandegee-You say you were notified to that effect?
 The President-Yes sir.
 Senator Swanson-As I understand you were notified that they had instruc tions not to sign unless this was included
 The President-Yes.