Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-16
PRESIDENT DEFENDS
WEAKNESS Of PACT
Explains to Senators That
Japanese Would Have Left
Peace Table.
MERIT IN CRITICISMS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Wilson is in the position
OF defending the whole treaty and
league of nations when he realizes at
the same time there is much merit in
some of the criticisms of the document
which are being made in the Senate.
Many of the decisions of the peace
conference were based upon expe-
diency. 1t is this feature of the sit
uatfon which Mr.. Wilson is explaining
to senators in the private conferences
at the White House.
1t is true, for instance. that one of
the weakest points in the whole peace
treaty is the transfer to Japan of Ger
man rights in Shantung. The Presi-
dent has told a number of senator's
that it was essential to heed Japan's
request for German rights. Otherwise
Japan would have left the peace con-
ference and the natural consequence
an alliance with Germany and reac-
tionary elements in Russia-was not
lost upon the conferees.
Senator Norris Seeks Documents.
Senator Norris of Nebraska has
asked for documents purporting to
show that Japan and Germany were
in negotiation during the progress of
is to show that Japan was not so
faithful an ally as is supposed, and
that she ought not to have been re-
warded at the expense of China. 1t is
true there were efforts made through
roundabout diplomatic channels by
Germany to tear Japan from her as
sociation with the entente. But it is
also true that the Japanese govern
ment never encouraged the negotia-
tions, and upon one occasion publicly
revealed Germany's intrigue.
There were, on the other hand. mill
tarist sections of Japanese public
opinion friendly to Germany who, for
political reasons, were constantly as
sailing the Japanese governments
friendship for the allies and lauding
Germany's efforts in the war. Pro-
German sections of public opinion, it
is contended, however, were present
in nearly all of the allied countries,
including the United States.
Produces Unfavorable Impression.
But while Mr.. Wilson argues that
Japan is merely receiving rights which
Germany previously exercised in Shan
tung, and that but for the war there
would never have been any change in
the status of those leases and economic
privileges, nevertheless it is evident that
acceptance of the japanese demand for
Shantung on penalty of her refusal to
adhere to the league of nations and
peace treaty has produced an unfavor-
able impression even among the Presi-
dents most ardent supporters. The
President believes the league of nations
will present opportunities for revision
of the Shantung settlement but it would
benefit Anglo-Japanese relations far
more If japan today were to announce
definitely the time when she would re-
turn to China the right she has received
in Shantung, or if she would negotiate
an agreement with China which would
enable the latter to sign the peace treaty
Some voluntary action by Japan is con-
IDENTIFY hoped for by friends of JAPAN,
lest the excellent progress toward close
relations which began with the comin.
of the Ishii mission suffer as a conse-
quence of the present debate.
Urged japanese Statement.
1t is known that the American mis-
sion urged the Japanese delegates to
issue some statement on the subject
before President Wilson left Paris,
but the suggestion was not fruitful of
results Perhaps when Japan herself
realizes the extent of the damage be-
ing done her by the present contro-
versy a statement of her intentions
with respect to Shantung will be is
sued.
Whether it will come in time to head
off a joint resolution by the Senate ir-
of the peace treaty de-
the Shantung settlement and
urging that the league of nations
make the problem a matter of immedi-
ate consideration is hard to foretell.
Certainly the temper of the Senate is
such that even though the league of
nations and peace treaty may be rati-
fed, an expression on the subject of
Shantung seems inevitable.
Copyright, 1879