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Show BA Y ST A TE SENA TOR ASSAILS- JAPANESE Senator Declares Pact a Practical Step Toward World Peace; Urges Adoption by America. Norris of Nebraska Charges Paris Intrigue With Responsibility for Shantung Agreement. WASHINGTON, July 15. Characterizing Characteriz-ing the league of nations as a practical step toward world peace involving no sacrifice sac-rifice of national sovereignty, Senator Underwood, Un-derwood, Democrat, of Alabama, urged in tho senate today acceptance of the league covenant without amendment or reservation. "The great causes of war," he said, "may be paraphrased in two words: 'National 'Na-tional selfishness.' Until the civilization of the world is prepared to dethrone its own selfish ideals and to recognize the rights of other peoples, the, inherent causes of war must continue to exist. "I am not prepared to say that the adoption of the present treaty carries within Itself the elimination of these causes of war, or that in the end there will be no more wars, but I do say that, within the folds of this treaty we find an agreement between the great nations of the world that probably will in the future carry the questions of national dispute dis-pute to a court of final arbitration, and in many, if not most instances, avoid the horrors and injustices of war. LEAGUE DECLARED NO SUPER-GOVERNMENT. "I do not regard the organization of (Jie league as a supergovernment. No supergovernment could exist without power to maintain itself. Within itself the league has no power to levy taxes, and without revenue a government cannot, long exist. The league has no power to raise armies and navies, and, without military forces, it cannot defend Itself. With the right to withdraw, I feel, that there is no need to fear the dangerous surrender of any of the fundamental principles and rights of the American people. peo-ple. Therefore. I am willing to take it and try it and hope that from the seed that is planted today, in its fruition the final peace of the world may be found. "I am more interested in the principles enunciated In the clauses relating to the league of nations than I am in the powers pow-ers given for its government, for, on these principles, the future life of the league must depend. I would have been glad to subscribe to a contract that would have arbitrarily limited the armaments of the world. Such a decree is not found within the contract, but there is a covenant cove-nant that seeks to keep the peace of the world, that authorizes the executive council coun-cil of the league to consider how much the present armaments of nations should be reduced. LEAGUE IS BOUND TO MAINTAIN PEACE. "Another vital principle that we are asked to agree to is that all of the members mem-bers of the league shall submit differences differ-ences between them that are not capable of being settled by negotiation before a tribunal to be composed of judges or arbitrators arbi-trators agreed to by them, and after entering en-tering into the arbitration they are required re-quired to abide by the award. "Hut the greatest principle of the league tending to keep the peace of the world is that which declares that "the li if h contracting con-tracting parties to this treaty shall undertake un-dertake to respect and preserve against external aggression the pofiticul independence independ-ence and the territorial integrity of every member of the league.' Most of the wars that have been waged in the a Lies that have passed have had as thc-ir governing cause the desire to conquer and control another people, or to expand the territory of the country that is the aggressor in the war. PREVENT INCENTIVE AND END WARFARE. "Prevent the incentive for war growing out of a selfish desire for agression, as the overwhelming force of this covenant will do. and few actual causes of w;ir will remain that cannot, without difficulty or danger, be submitted to the high court of arbitration. "You may say: 'Then why should we become involved in an nlliance that may drag vis Into the disputes, the disasters rind the dangers of other nations'." This was the doctrine our fathers believed in, jand one that I am slow to yield. Hut we face a condition, not a theory. Time and space have been eliminated. Dangers to our people and our republic that were not (Continued on Page 3, Column 2.) idea of a league of nations. Senator Norris Nor-ris said he considered the Versailles covenant cove-nant contained many objectionable features fea-tures and would vote for changes in it. SENATOR UNDERWOOD DEFENDS MIT (Continued from Pago One.) dreamed cf a century ago confront us today to-day at our very doors, a threatening menace to our lives, our civilization and our institutions. Shall we continue to dream of the ideals of the past, or meet as practical men the dangers of the future fu-ture ? For me, there is but one course to pursue." A charge that Japan secured pledges from Great Britain, France, Italy and Russia early in 191 T that, in the peace settlement, Shantung peninsula should, for certain considerations, be turned over to the Tokio government, was made In the senate today by Senator, Norris. Republican, Republi-can, of Nebraska, who produced what he declared to be copies of diplomatic correspondence cor-respondence ' embodying the promises of G rea t Bri ta In and France. EXPLAINS PRESSURE FOR SHANTUNG TRANSFER These pledges, the Nebraska senator declared, fully explained the pressure which resulted In Shantung's transfer to Japan under the Versailles treaty, whose ratification by the senate, he asserted, would write "the blackest page in the nation's history." Great Britain's influence in the matter he charged, was secured by Japan's support sup-port of British claims to Pacific islands south of the equator, while France's aid was purchased by a promise of the Tokio government to help draw China into the war so that German ships In Chinese harbors har-bors would be I available for carrying troops nnd provisions to France. "On the 2? tli of March," said Senator Norris, "the Japanese minister qi foreign affairs at Tokio, approached the British ambassador located at that place with a view of bringing about an agreement with the British government. The British min-later min-later cabled to his government at Don-don, Don-don, and, after receiving Instructions from his government, wrote the Japane.se government gov-ernment as foilows; Instructions Quoted. " 'British Embassy, Tokio, Feb. 16, 1917. " 'My Dear Excellency: " 'With reference to the subject of our conversation of the 27th ult. his Britannic majesty's government accede with pleasure to the request of the Japanese Japa-nese government for an assurance that they will support Japan's claims in regard to the disposal of Germany's rights in Shantung and possessions In the islands north of the equator on the occasion of the peace conference; it being understood that the Japanese government will, in the eventual peace settlement, treat in the same spirit Great Britain's claims to the German islands south of the equator. " 'I avail myself of this opportunity, M. Le Ministre, to renew to your excellency the assurance of my highest consideration. considera-tion. " 'CONYNGHAM GREENE, " 'His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador.' "On the 21st day of February, 1117, the Japanese government replied to this communication com-munication of he British government as follows; (Omitting formal part:) Japan's Reply. " 'The Japanese government is deeply appreciative of the friendly spirit in which your government has given assurance assur-ance and happy to note it as afresh proof of the close ties that unite the two allied powers. I take- pleasure in stating that the Japanese government on its part is ! fully prepared to support in the same ! spirit the claims which may be put forward for-ward at the peace conference in regard to the German possessions in the islands south of the equator.' "While the Japanese government was waiting for a reply from the British, government gov-ernment it proceeded also to negotiate with the other allied governments. Its message to the French ambassador at Tokio was signed by the Japanese foreign minister and" was as folows: " 'The imperial Japanese government proposes to demand from Germany Ger-many at the Ume of the peace negotiations negotia-tions the surrender of the territorial lights and special interests Germany po3 sessed before the war in Shantung and the islands situated north of the equator in the Pacific ocean. " 'The .Imperial Japanese government confidently hopes the government of the French republic, realizing the legitimacy of these demands, will give assurance that, her case being proved, Japan may count upon its full support in this question. ques-tion. "Unjustifiable Attacks." ' 'It goes wltnout saying that reparation repara-tion for damages caused to the life and property of the Japanese people by the unjustifiable attacks of the enemy as well as other conditions of peace, of a character common to all the entente powers, pow-ers, are entirely outside the consideration of the present situation.' "A few days later the French ambassador ambassa-dor replied to the Japanese foreign office i ac follows: " 'The government of the French republic re-public id disposed to give the Japanese government Its accord in regulating at the time of the peace negotiations questions ques-tions vital to Japan concerning Shantung and the German islands in the Pacific north of the equator. It also agrees to support the demands of the imperial Japanese Jap-anese government for the surrender of the rights Germany possessed before the war in this Chinese province and these islands. " 'M. Brfand demands, on the other hand, that Japan give its support to obtain from China the breaking of its diplomatic dip-lomatic relations with Germany and that it give this act dtsirable significance, The consequences of this in China should be the following; "'First handing passports to the. German Ger-man diplomatic agents and consuls. " 'Second, the obligation of all under German jurisdiction to leave Chinese territory. ter-ritory. Internment of Ships. " 'Third, the internment of German ships in Chinese ports and the ultimate requisition of these ships in order to place them at the disposal of the allies following follow-ing the example of Italy and Portugal. According to the information of the French government there are fifteen German Ger-man ships in Chinese porta totalling about 4U.OO0 tons. " 'Fourth, requisition of German commercial com-mercial houses established in China; forfeiting for-feiting the right of Germany in the concessions con-cessions she possesses in certain parts of China.' "Upon receipt of this communication the foreign minister of Japan on behalf of Japan, promised compliance with the request of the French government contained con-tained in this letter. Similar negotiations were entered into with similar results with Italy, although the negotiations with Italy took place in Rome and not in Tokio. Similar agreement also was made with Russia and it must be remembered that at that time Russia was still in the war and it was anticipated that at tfoe close of the war she would have a place at the peace table. ; Sought Her Assistance, I "It Is thus clearly disclosed that while i these leading governments of the world were inducing China to get Into the war, i in order that they might secure her assis- lance and particularly that they might be . able to get possession of the German I ships interned Jn China's harbors, they were secretly plotting among themselves t as to her destruction as soon as she had complied with tbeir wishes and the war was over. In all the annals of history, I do not believe there Is recorded an instance in-stance of a more disgraceful and dishon-! dishon-! orable Agreement to carve up the terrl-i terrl-i Lory not of an enemy, but of an allied friend. "And if we approve this wicked decree, is it any defense to say that we were the only member of the court that was not bribed? If we ratify this treaty as it stands, we approve not only the judgment, judg-ment, but the reprehensible method by which it was brought about. Should this treaty as it stands become operative and later the 30,000.000 Chinese in Shantung I should rebeL against the rule of Japan Land then if the balance of China should go to the assistance of their own brethren breth-ren In attempting to overthrow the unlawful un-lawful and cruel rule of a foreign government, govern-ment, then under section 10 of the league of nations as It now stands, it would be our duty to contribute American lives and American blood on the battlefield to assist Japan to retain her power. Attacks Treaty. "This treaty should go back, and I believe be-lieve if the American people could have an opportunity to see all the vice that it contains and were able to express their patriotic sentiments, it would go back practically by a unanimous vote. When the honest citizens of Great Britain, of France and of Italy realize the injustice that It contains, they will unite with us in demanding that it be rejected," While declaring he favored the general |