Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 208, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 August 1919 — “GOD SAVE CHINA FROM FRIENDS” [ARTICLE]

“GOD SAVE CHINA FROM FRIENDS”

Senator McCumber Protests in Senate Against Shantung Amendment to Treaty. AGAINST INTEREST OF CHINA

Republican Senator Asserts That Opponents of the Peace Treaty In the Senate Are Trying to Kill IL

Washington. Aug.B2d.— Senator McCinnber, Jor 20 years Republican senator from North Dakota, in a speech In the senate today, charged that the majority of the foreign relations committee is trying to kiM the peace treaty and the League of Nations. Senator McCumber spoke after his second b ren ch with the —opponents of the treaty on the senate committee on foreign relations. In the present breach Senator McCumber voted alone with the supporters of the treaty and against the majority of the committee which voted to out “Japan" and "Insert “China” in the three, sections awarding the Shantung peninsula. “Why did the majority of this committee pause in the midst of their hearings to make this particular amendment?’’ asked Senator McCumher. “The purpose is apparent. It is to signify to the country that the senate is hostile to this treaty. It is to put Japan in a position where she cannot, without an appearance of being coerced, do what she has promised to d<>. Ts ls to create trouble between this country and Japan ami thereby send the first dagger thrust into the body of this treaty. “1 am satisfied that no greater blow could ever be struck against tht real interests of China than by such an amendment. - , "Is It an act of true friendship toward China or a mere political move to defeat 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 proceed single handed an’d alone to drive Japan out of China, will renew this world war and send our soldiers into the orient to fight for her. then by this Set they are betraying-China with a false kiss.

“If, on the other hand, they declare they will make war to drive Japan out of China, to prevent Japan receiving only those rights which the other great nations of the world have received, then they are proclaiming a policy which they have assailed as being the most wicked part of the League of Nations —a policy of Interference with the quarrels of the old world. Worse than that. While they violently condemn a joint agreement with the other great white pations of the world to shield the greater white races from annihilation they would send our sons to death to defend the inferior yellow races which we claim to be so inferior to us as to be uhfit to associate with.

"Either we will bring both Japim and China into this League of National which by the very terms of its provisions will compel Japan to return to China all the German rights acquired by Japan, not only by conquest but by the solemn agreement made by her with China herself, or you will drive Japan out of this treaty wherein she will not be bound by the obligations which she would assume by joining the league, and where she will be holding the German territory and all the German interests by the right of conquest; and with the broken word of China she can work her way to the very limit of subjugation of all the Chinese territory not now within the sphere of influence of other powers. “With this League of Nations China obtains an assurance, which is tantamount to a guaranty 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 people inconsistent with the claims of complete independence and sovereignty.” Senator MeCumber then recited the history of the several treaties under which Japan took over the German rights in Shantung, promising to restore them to China. ‘ He then said: “By this amendment you declare that Japan cannot be trusted to keep sacred her word, given not only to China but also given to the United States and every other important nation by reiterated declarations.

“There is but one honorable, upright and proper course to be pursued by all the, great natlona of the world, . including China and Japan. Let China keep her treaty;-give Japan an opportunity to do what she has pledged her national honor to do; cease this attempt to juggle this country into war with Japan; defeat this proposed amendment which arrogates to ourselves’the right to annul a treaty between China and Japan and sets at naught a treaty made during tho stress of battle between our co-belllgerents and Japan before we entered into the war; bring Japan - and China into this world league, and as sure as the sun shall rise tomorrow Japan will keep her plighted faith. China will receive complete present justice' and assured future protection.

“On the other hand force this breach of contract by China; drive Japan out of the league by insulting her honor; relieveTfer' from her treaty by first breaking it yourselves and thereby installing her in her impregnable position of right of conquest and China is doomed. The other European nations cannot help her because they are tied by their own treaties, and you will not make war on Japan to help Chip* after she has broken her treaty. “If these be friends of China, then God save China from her friends.” <«