New-York tribune., 1919-08-27


peace treaty to drive poisoned dag
ger into the peace treaty and to place
the United States in the position Of q
big bully" Senator McCumber, OF
North Dakota. the only Republican
member of the committee who voted
| against the amendment, asked the
Senate to-day to overriule the commit
tees action.
The speaker said "no greater blow
could ever be struck against the real
interests of China" than by the COM
mittee amendment, the actual purpose
of which. he asserted, was to kill the
treaty and the league. The amendment
provides that .he old German rights
in Shantung Province shall 60 to China
in place of Japan.
"Why did the majority of this COM
mittee pause in the midst of their
hearings to make this particular amend
ment," he continued, "and then proceed
with the usual leisure to lay out dates
for further hearings which will con-
sumo week or so more? The purpose
is apparent. 1t is to signify to the
country that the Senate is hostile to
this treaty. 1t is to put Japan in a
position where she cannot, without an
appearance of being coerced, do what
she has promised to do. 1t is to
create trouble between this country and
Japan and thereby send the first dag
ger thrust into the body of the treaty.
Predicts New Wars
"Is it an act of true friendship toward
China or a mere political move to de-
feat the treaty? If its sponsors now
fail to come forward and openly pledge
that if Japan is driven out Of this
treaty, then the United States will pro-
ceed singlehanded and alone to drive
Japan out of China-wil renew this
world war and send our soldiers into
the Orient to fight for her-then by
this act they are betraying China with
a false kiss.
"They know and we know that this
country will never go to war against
Japan to prevent Japan from doing just
what we have allowed every other ma
ton to do in China without protest.
With the league of nations China OBJ
tains an assurance which, is tantamount
to a guarantee by all the world that
not only will Japan return to China
what Germany wrested from her in
1898, but henceforth and so long as this
league shall last no other nation shall
rob China of one inch of her territory
or exercise any control over her peo-
pie inconsistent with the claims of COM
plete independence and sovereignty"
Senator McCumber's speech, Senator
Nelson, Republican of Minnesota, sug-
gosted that the United States could not
neutralize or destroy the Shantung
provision after the other powers had
accepted it, and that for the Senate
to so amend the treaty would be "like
the Pope's bull against the comet"
Senator Lenroot, Republican, Of Wis
consin, asked if such action by the
Senate would not be without effect and
Senator McCumber replied in the af-
frmative.
Senator Borah, Republican, of Idaho.
replying to Senator McCumber at
length, attacked Japan's record in Far
Eastern diplomacy and declared there
was every reason to believe that she
was not acting in good faith in her
promise to return Shantung to China.
He asserted that Senator McCumber's
argument was the first to be made at
to defend the Shantung pro
vision on any other ground except ex-
pcdiency.
"All the members of the peace dele
CATION" said the Idaho Senator. "have
gone on record as believing the pro
vision was wrong. The President him
self was very prompt in saying it was
very unsatis factory to him."
Senator Borah argued that not only
must Japan's promises be discounted,
but that she really had promised
nothing material.
"Nowhere," he continued, "has Japan
ever promised to return anything but
a mere she'll. She might very we'll
comply technically with any promises
she has made, but after she has COM
piled she'll still be complete master
of Shantung"
Pointing out that President Wilson
had issued statement apparently
disagreeing with Baron Uchida's un-
derstanding of the Versailles agree
ment regarding the return of Shan
tung. Senator Borah continued:
"Already, before the ink is dry on
the parchment, before the treaty is rat
fled, there is difference Of opinion
upon material matter between the
President and the Japanese delegates.
What shall we expect in a year, or five
years from now, when the President
and the Japanese statesmen who at
tended the conference may have passed
out of office ?"
Cites Corean Policy
Senator Borah declared that Japan,
through treaties, agreed to protect
Corea's independence, but mad ignored
these treaties and taken control of the
country. Treatment of the Coreans
since that time, he said, "has shocked
the conscience of the civilized world"
The Senator read part of report
which he said was compiled late in
1914 and early in 1915 and filed with
the Japanese government by power
ful military organization, urging the
adoption of a policy which would bring
China under the domination of Japan.
Shortly after this report was filed with
the government, he said, Japan pre-
sented her twentyone demands, which
reduced China to state of absolute
serfdom."
Senator Borah said Japan even then
had made up her mind to acquire Shan
tung and that Japan first sought to
keep the demands on China secret. but
later, after denying their existence, re-
vised them SO as to eliminate certain
Objectionable features and made them
public as the original twenty-one de-
mands.
Referring TO the secret treaties be-
tween Japan and the Allies, Senator