The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-15
READY TO FIGHT
TO LAST DITCH
Against Reservations to Ger
man Peace Treaty BY
United States.
SHANTUNe SITUATION
Light Will Be Thrown on Sc
cret Treaty Between Japan,
Britain, France and Italy.


Washington, July Id N. ST.
President Wilson will fight to the
last ditch against reservations by tho
United States to the German peace
treaty. This was again emphasized
by administration leaders today.
Predictions that the president
would agree to inconsequentiaI
changes through reservations Ia
save the faces" of certain senator's
were said to be utterly without
foundation by administration leaders.
They insisted that the president has
thoroughly canvassed the general
situation and that he is convinced
that the opposition could not muster
enough senate votes for a single
reservation In order to Incorporates ID
in the treaty.
Only One Left.
Since his arrival In Washington
the president has dealt personally
with certain democratic senators
who were reported to be wavering in
their support of the treaty. AS 4
result of these conferences Mr.. VIII
son was said by the men closest to,
him, to be certain that there will nod
be more than the democratic senatofd
Reed, OF Missouri, recorded in fave
or any notifications OF the treaty
The president also believes that 81
FAR as the Shantung agreement 1
concerned, he Will be able to exs
plain his action in this connection I'd
that certain republican votes which
are lined up in opposition to the
treaty largely because of this one
provision, will be available for the
ratincation. The president Is very
anxious, his advisers say, to explain
the Shantung situation to the SEN
ate. He has discovered that many
OF the facts concerning these nego-
t1ations have not been made plain.
even to administration lieutenants.
In the upper branch of congress.
Promises Revelations.
When the president appears before
the foreign relations COMMITTEES ID
tell OF the negotiations, he will make
the following revelations:
F1rst--That Great Britain, France
and Italy had bound themselves in
the most explicit terms by a secret
treaty entered into with Japan at
the commencement of the war, 70
confer in perpetuity on Japan all
rights ana benefits enjoyed by Ger
many under Its term treaty with
China extorted from the latter courl-
try.
Second-That the Chinese govern
ment ALSO had entered into a secret
agreement with Tokio--Chinese dip
lomats say 1t was extorted-wherebv
Japan was given concessions along
the lines of the so-called twenty-five
demands originally insisted on by
Japan and later reluctantly with
drawn following a vigorous protest
by the state department..
Presidents Protest.
Third-That when he president
WILSON,, after a conference with
wellington koo, one of the Chinese
peace commissioners, protested
against Japan retaining any rights
whatever at Shantung, the represen-
tative of Great Britain, Mr.. LLOYD
George; of France, NJ. Clemenccau.
and of Italy, Signor Orlando, pro
duced the secret treaty and an
nounced that its terms were in every
way binding upon them and that
they were prepared to insist that Ja-
pan should have all concessions
promised. This left the United States
absolutely alone in opposition.
Fought Japan's Claims.
Fourth-That for more than ten
days, he (the president) fought the
Japanese claims, with the result that
ne secured the following modifca-
lions which were agreed to by the
Japanese peace delegates and rati-
Ned by the British, French and ItaI-
ian premiers: That Japan will sur
render to China all territorial rights
within the Shantung peninsula, in
Guiding the fortified area of Using
Tau; agree to withdraw all troops
from the area of the peninsula, re-
serving only the right to create four
settlements thereon, but outside OF
the fortified districts; that Japan will
substitute Chinese police for Japa-
hese railway guards, reserving the
right, however, first to train them
with Japanese officers; that Japan
VIII retain the ownership and oper-
alton rights of the railway lines on
The peninsula, but will accept iiiris-
fiction by the league of nations
council, when formed, regarding the
,erms that show ownership and op-
grafton shall continue.
Believes He Will Win Votes.
How far this explanation will 20
owards satisfying the senators who
nave opposed the Shantung settle
nent IN every way cannot be fore
'ast at the present time. However.
administration leaders believe that ii
viii win votes inasmuch as it Is con-
'eded that the president found the
ards stacked on this question and
Japan and her claims solidly sup
ported by her original allies in the
var.
SO far as the opposition to section
o of the league of nations constitu-
ion is concerned. the president, his
.dvisers say will call the attention
# the senators to the fact that in
rider that any action under that Sec
ion should be binding upon the
United States that action must be
pproved by the United States itself
through its representative on the
ouncil. And 1t will be argued that
pproval would certainly he withheld
Until the attitude of the American
'eople towards these problems un-
er discussion could be ascertained.
The president was said today by
i1lcials of the administration to be
cry confident that when he has had
pportunity to reveal the various
etails of the negotiations at Paris
o the senator's good part Of the
pposition to the treaty will disap-
ear.