The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-11

tne Fquator.' Senator Norris continued
Now remember, this was just before
we went into the war. Following the
agreement with Great Britain, the same
kind of agreement was made with
France, Italy and Russia-Russia being
still in the war on the side of the Allies.
The President says he knew nothing
about the secret treaties until they
gathered around the peace table ] am
assuming for the purposes of the argu-
ment that that Is the truth. These
agreements were made at time when 1t
was known that the United States was
going to enter the war and 1t was also
pretty generally known that after we
entered the war China would follow US
in. 1t was known also that China had
desired for a long time to enter the war,
but had been prevented from doing so
by Japan. So Japan made these agree
mepts to seal China's fate before she
entered the war.
Need Not Go to War.
at is said in extenuation of this pro-
vision in the treaty that Japan will go
ahead and keep Shantung and we will
do no good for China by refusing to sign.
Suppose that were true. What does It
amount to? Regardless of what may
happen let us keep our hands free from
one of our Allies. II Japan will rob
China we can at least say we do not
approve it. The President has said this
amendment would make 1t necessary
for us to go to war to help China get
Shantung. Nothing could be further
from the truth. So far as / know no.
body has suggested such thing or ad-
vocated 1t. But even IL we do not go
to war there is no reason why we should
give our consent to such n robbery.
Then 1t is said If we do not agree TO
1t we will have no treaty. II that be
true 1t would be better to have no treaty
at all than for the United States to be
party TO such a crime against a
| friendly people. I believe idr. Lansing
told the truth when he said in his testi-
mony before the Foreign Relations Com
mittee that II we had not agreed to the
| secret treaty Japan would not have re-
fused to sign the treaty and to become a
member of the League of Nations"
Senator Norris pointed out that a peace
built on such foundation could not be
| permanent and that a league obtained
| on the basis Of dishonest Agreements
could net last.
Every Student of history knows that
| such peace cannot last" he said
Fifty years ago Germany took Alsace-
Lorraine from France, and she had at
with France. We do not even have that
here. We are taking territory from an
ally. This disgraceful Shantung pro-
vision. If approved, will just as surely
bring the fruits OF disruption and ruin
to anything builded and founded on II
as the sun will rise tomorrow morn
ing. There is no escape"
Mr.. Norris took up the argument that
the award of Shantung to Japan ulti-
I ha Co.
because when the League of Nations is
established 1t will restore the territory
to China. He said:
| Il do not see how anybody can offer
that argument in good faith II we
want to give Shantung to China our
chance Is now. to put into the treaty
what we want to say. Every lawyer
knows that 1t would not be admissible in
evidence to prove after We have made
a law Of this treaty that when We said
Japan In the treaty we really meant
| China Nobody ever would be able to
get into evidence in a court of justice an
| explanation OF that kind Japan will be
| able to say when the treaty is properly
| approved: We point to the bond. We
object to the introduction of any other
evidence in explaining something that is
perfectly plain on its face -
Then where is the opportunity in the
treaty for China to get relief? Nobody
has ever yet, so far as 1 have heard,
pointed to a single sentence or provision
! In the treaty or league that would give
| China the opportunity, that would give
ireland an opportunity, that would give
Egypt an opportunity, that would give
| India an opportunity, that would give
Corea or South Africa an opportunity TO
ask for independence or. the return OF
their own property. When the treaty is
agreed to the last nail in the coffin, as
far as this league is able to hold It, is
driven into every one of those nationali-
ties. There is no other outcome there
| is no other possible construction.