New-York tribune., 1919-08-23
Professor Williams Tells
Senate Committee He
COunselled p re sd d e n t
Against Shant1ng Section
Says China Was Wronged
Cession to Toxic Was
Not Necessary, Witness
Told American Envoys

WASHINGTON Aug. 22.-Professor
f. T. Williams. for many years in the
Far Eastern division of the State De-
partment and one of the expert ad-
visers of the American peace mission.
told the Foreign Relations Committee
to-day Of his advice to the Pre- esident
against yielding to Japan on the Shan
tung issue.
ut would have been better, in my
opinion" he said, "for the peace con-
ference to have reached an impasse
than for the ShantunC section to have
been written into the peace treaty"
Williams Quotes President
"President Wilson told me-" said
Dr. Williams, that unfortunately he
considered that his fourteen points
were not sweeping enough to enforce
the return of Shantung to China. On
April %, during the negotiations in
Paris, | told President Wilson that in
my view the transfer of Shantung to
Japan. would contravene the fourteen
points laid down as the basis of peace.
"President Wilson replied that he
had learned that France and England
had made secret agreements TO settle
Shantung on the basis of Japan's de
mands. The President said that as the
war had been fought largely to estab-
lish the sanction of treaties it seemed
necessary to insist upon their enforce
ment even though some of them were
unconscionable."
"Will you tell the committee your
own opinion regarding the Shantung
+1o>~, 81 I'll
"1n my view" replied DR.. Williams,
at was an unfortunate determination.
The kiao-chau concession and the
Santung railroad should have been
restored automatically to China
China lost then through an act of
German piracy, and that should noc
have been made the basis of a claim
to them on the part Of Japan.
Chinese Allege Coercion
"In the Council Of Five, Baron
Maxine, Of Japan, insisted that the
secret treaties regarding Shantung,
should be executed. China protested
strongly on the ground that she had
been compelled to acce"' these ar
rangements under threat II force. The
legisla. .ure OF Shantung communicated
to the American delegation its earnest
hope that the United States would
support China's claims and prevent
the transfer to Japan"
On April %, the witness said, Presi-
dent Wilson sent for him and asked
him which Of the proposed alternatives
would be less injurious to China-the
transfer of the German Shantung
execution of Japan's treaty with China
growing out o. the famous twenty-one
demands Of 1915
III replied,' continued Professor Will
Jams, that hoped neither course
would be found necessary. The Presi-
dent said that, unfortunately, Great
Britain and France were bound by GER
tain engagements with Japan to support
Japans claims in Shantung, and that
Lloyd George said he would bow only
on the consideration that the 1915
treaty was executed"
The witness said he suggested that
since the 1915. treaty was exacted by
force, it ought not to be binding, but
that the President replied Japan might
not be willing to recognize that they
we're made by force. Professor Williams
then suggested that the treaty have q
blanket provision that all German
property in China SHOULD be turned
over to China and that any rights
taken from Germany by Japan should
be returned to China within one year.
Later the expert advisers of the
British, French and American delega-
tions Joined in a memorandum saying
that transfer of the German Shantung
rights to Japan would be the more
desirable of the two courses suggested.
Professor Williams and McClay, q
British expert, Joined in a memorandum
saying China ought not be compelled
to accept either alternative
Professor Williams said he had seen
a letter regarding Shantung, written
the President by General Bliss, and had
made some suggestions during its
preparation, but could not recall the
details of its contents.
On Monday the committee will hear
Joseph W. Folk, who was to have an
Deared tomorrow on behalf of the
Egyptians. Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday are to be devoted to work
on amendments. On Friday the Greeks
and other mid idEuropean peoples are to
be heard and on Saturday a session
Will be devoted to Irish claims. Will
lam c. Buliitt, another Versailles ad
wiser, probably will appear the follow