South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-24
PLAN To UNITE
FACTIONS UPON
MIDDLE GROUND
Former President offers Sug-
geStion to Secure RatiflCa-
ton Without Radical
Changes.


acceptance Of the League OF Nations
has been suggested by former prest
TAFT in the hope OF uniting on
riddle ground enough democratic
and republican senators TO defeat
any radical amendment or the cove
nant and IN the end obtain it's rati-
ncation.
The suggestion has been received
with earnest consideration by
"a group OF republicans who favor
the League and who already are
al work on definite program
of interpretative reservations which
they declar they have rea-
SON to believe will be &C
cepted by the administration The
administration leaders. however, un-
wiling 10 concede that any reserva-
tious will be necessary. still insist
they will have the votes when the
time comes, 10 ratify the covenant
as IL is.
So confident are the league repub-
ifcans OF the success of their plan
that some Of them believe Pres't
Wilson Will publicly accept It 10
smooth the way TO acceptance OF the
league Some republican senators
who have seen the president in the
last few days have come away from
the white house with the impress
sion that Mr. Wilson. while not en-
couraging reservations If they can
be avoided, might not be adverse
10 such interpretations as would
leave the league fabric unimpaired.
hi inn
sion is not based on any direct state
ment BY the president.
Sensation I'm House.
MIR. Taft's suggestion. which ceat-
cd sensation in the senate because
Of MS well known advocacy OF unre-
served ratification, was embodied in
two letters 20 VIII II. Hays. the re-
publican national chairman, copies
OF which reached some republican
senators Wednesday. They touched
upon many features of the treaty
controversy and emphasized the for
mer presidents belief that only by
acceptance OF some reservations
could the treaty be ratified.
Six specific Interpretation propo-
sails are outlined which Mr.. Taft
says he is convinced will meet the
objections of large group OF re-
lubIicans who favor league. lie
counts as democratic senators as
supporting the president in the
treaty fight and says that should
three republicans be committed to
vote against material amendments,
TO such proposals could receive a
senate majority
Lodge Refuses Comment.
The former president suggested to
Mr.. Hays that his name be withheld
FOR the present from connection
WITH the Interpretation plan since IL
might antagonize some senators of
his party. Chairman Lodge OF the
foreign relations committee. who is
named in that connection declined
Wednesday 10 make any comment
on the Taft letter
Mr.. Taft also has written some of
the republican senators who. under
the leaderships of Sens. McCumber
North Dakota. and McNary. Oregon
have been interested in formulating
"a middle course for solution of the
senate situation. It is understood
that Sens. kellogg. Minnesota; Colt
RHODE Island. and Spencer. Mis-
souri,. also have been consulted in
The interests of such plan.
In one OF his letters 10 Mr.. Hays
Mr.. Taft, severely criticized Pres
Wilson for his partisan" course dur
ing the war and IN the peace nego-
tiations and ia the other gave the
impression that no serious oppOsi-
lion is 10 be feared 10 any portion
OF the peace treaty except the league
covenant. The Shantung provision
NJ wrote. had been the subject OF
deliberate eNaggeratiOn."
Circulate Letters.
While the letters were being cir
culated among republican senators
Wednesday. the FIRST public express
sion on the ShantunC settlement
came from the white house in the
form OF a statement declaring al
together false published report.
that the president had formulated
The, provision. The statement con
tinued that Mr.. Wilson had "exerted
all the influence he was at liberty
toeNercise in the circumstances.
TO secure modification of the ar
rangement givng control OF tn,
peninsula 20 Japan.
The presidents statement was ac
ccpted as precluding any likelihood
tina. Mr.. Wilson would defend tn,
Shantung provision except on th'
ground OF eXpediency
The two letters 20 Mr.. Hays copie.
OF which were received here Wed
nesday do not outline definitely tn
six interpretations suggested by Mr.
Taft but they are referred 20 a
having been contained in previou
unpublished communication. Thes
six stipulations are understood 10 b.
substantially IS follows.
THAT upon two years notic
the United States could cease 10 b'
a member OF she league withou
having the league pass upon wheth
er she had fulnHed all her obliga
uons under the covenant.
THAT self governed colonie
ana dominions could not be repre-
sented on the league council at th'
SAME time with the mother govern
ment or be included in any OF thos'
clauses where the parties 20 the dis