Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-07-15
Senator Norris Charges
Entente, Nations Made
Outrageous Bargain.
DENOUNCES TREATY
OF VERSAILLES
Declares Senate Would "Write Black
est Page In Nations History" In
Ratifying Pact - Great Britain,
France, Italy and Russia Charged
With eartering Shantung Province
to Win Japanese Support.

washington, July ia Cnarge IndI
Japan secretly secured pledges from
Great Britain, France, Italy and Rus
sia, early in 1917. that in the peace
settlement Shantung Peninsula should
for certain conditions be turned over
to the Toxic government, was made in
the senate by Senator Norris, repub-
lican. Of Nebraska, who produced what
he declared to be copies Of diplomatic
correspondence embodying the prom
ises Of Great Britain and France.
These pledges, he declared, fully ex-
planned the pressure which resulted in
Standings transfer to japan under the
Versailles treaty. the ratification of
which, by the senate. he asserted
would write the blackest page in the
nations history"
Great Britain's influence in the
matter" he charged, was secured by
Japan's support of British claims to
Pacific islands south Of the equator,
while Frances aid was purchased by
the promises of the Toxic government
to help draw China into the war SO
that German ships in Chinese waters
woul6be available for carrying troops
and provisions to France.
Secretly Plotted china's Destruction.
Similar negotiations were entered
into with similar results with Italy.
Similar agreements also were made
with Russia and it must be remember
ed that at that time Russia was still
in the war and It was anticipated at
the close of the war she would have a
place at tfis peace table.
TT Is thus disclosed that while the
leading nations of the world were in
ducing China to get into the war in or
der that they might secure her as
sistance and particularly that they
might be able to get possession Of the
German ships interned in China's har-
bors, they were secretly plotting among
themselves as to her destruction as
soon as she complied with their wishes
and the war was over. In all the an
nails of history, do not believe there IS
recorded an instance of a more dis
graceful and dishonorable agreement
to carve up the territory not Of an en-
emy but Of an allied friend.
Assist Japs Against China.
"And if we approve this wicked de-
cree, is it any defense to say that we
were the only member Of the court that
was not bribed2 If we ratify this
treaty as it stands, we approve not
only the judgment, but the reprehensi-
Bile method by which it was brought
about Should this treaty as it stands
become operative and later the 80, ,000,-
900 Of Chinese in Shantung should re-
bel against the rule Of Japan, and then
if the balance Of China should go to the
assistance Of their own brethren in
attempting to overthrow the unlawful
and cruel rule Of a foreign government,
then under section 10 Of the league Of
nations as 1t now stands it would be
our duty to contribute American lives
and American blood on the battlefield
to assist Japan to retain her power.
"This treaty should so back and I
believe if the American people could
have an opportunity to see all the vice
that 1t contains and were able to ex-
press their patriotic sentiments it
would go back practically by a unani-
NOUS vote. When the honest citizens
Of Great Britain. France and of Italy
realize the injustice that it contains,
they will unite with us in demanding
that 1t be rejected"
While declaring he favored the gem
eral idea Of a league Of nations. ,Sena-
tor Norris said he considered the YER
saiiles covenant contained many OBJ
jectional features and would vote for
changes init.