The daily banner., 1919-07-25

TAFT APPEALS
TO DEMOCRATS
Puts His Plan For Treaty Be.
fore Leaders.
HOPE FOR MIOOLE GROUND
Senator Hitchcock Receives Letter
From Former President on Subject
Of Reservations.

From Former President on Subject
Of Reservations.
Washington, July 23. - Former
President Taft, who has written to
several Republican senator's and
leaders suggesting reservations to the
peace treaty which might be accept
able to both sides, has opened CORE
spondance on the subject with prOml-
nent Democratic senator's.
Senator Hitchcock, Nebraska, one
OF the leading spokesmen for the
administration in the senate fight, re-
ceived a letter from Mr.. Taft.
The former presidents communica-
tion was not made public, but 1t is
understood to be of the same general
tenor as those sent to the Republicans
suggestions for agreement upon
treaty reservations or interpretations
to facilitate ratification.
Senator Hitchcock and other admin
jstration senators declared that for
the present, at least, they would con-
tinue their efforts for ratification
without reservation. Expressing con-
fidence that there was no question
that the treaty would be ratified,
they said the fight now centered on
the resolution accompanying raitica.
ton in which would be embodied any
reservations or interpretations.
Contending that senate rules re-
uuired a vote on each article OF theH
treaty, the administration leaders,
said they believed they had the votesI
to defeat amendments to any sectionI
as simple majority only would be-
required.
Conceding that strength might de-
velop to compel acceptance OF ratl-
fication resolution with qualifying
clauses, the administration senator's
said they had not yet been advised
by President Wilson whether he
would be disposed to accept any inter-
pretations. 1t was said, however,
the administration would oppose to
the last any qualifying clauses which.
would require re-negotiation OF the.
treaty.
Secretary of State Lansing, who
returned to Washington from Paris,
had a long conference with the pres1-
dent at the White House, discussing
the situation at the peace conference
and other matters.
Encouraged by the suggestion OF
Mr.. Taft for certain interpretations
In the senate a:ceptance OF the treaty
Republican senators working out
program of interpretive reservations
increased their activity to bring to-
gether administration leaders and Re,
publicans favoring the league idea
so the League of Nations may be ac-
cepted Without vital modification.
An outline of former President
Taft's suggestions for reservations
to the peace treaty follows:
Provision is made for retire
ment from the League of Nations on
two years notice without the reser-
vation now in the treaty that the re-,
tirement shall be upon condition that.
the United States has fulfilled all its
obligations as a member of the league,
this question of fulfillment to be de-
termined by the council. The nation
withdraws as a member and the ques-'
ton of damages arising out of any;
failure to fulfill its International OBJ
legations, while a member of the
league, will be determined by the ma
c3.'nery set up for that purpose.
2-Self-gOverned colonies can not
even be represented on the council
If the home government is repre-
sented or be included in any of
these clauses where the parties to
the dispute are excluded from it's
settlement
3-Functioning of the council un-
der Article X shall be advisory only
and not binding on the members,
each of whom shall be free to de-
termine his own obligation which in
the case of the United States shall be
determined by congress.
differences between the nations
regarding immigration or the tariff
are domestic questions and are not
to be submitted to the league.
5-The Monroe Doctrine is defined
as a convention under international
lay applicable to this hemisphere and.
the right of the United States shall
not be challenged in Objecting to or
preventing any attempt by nom
American nation contravening the
principle of the Monroe Doctrine.
6-Without a waiver of any rights
on the part of the United States to
withdraw from the league at an ear
lier date, the United States gives no.
tice of withdrawal in ten years.