New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
MIR. Taft Thinks Again

Taft, published over his signature in
The Philadelphia Public Ledger of March
I we draw the following:
at should be borne in mind that the
present covenant is merely a report from
committee of the conference, signed by
the representatives of the fourteen nations
who are debating the present peace to
Germany. 1t now comes up in the con
ference for discussion, revision and
adoption. Undoubtedly the covenant needs
revision 1t is not symmetrcally ar
ranged. its meaning has to be dug out,
and the language is ponderous and in
diplomatic patois'
Continuing, Mr.. Taft says France does
not object to a league, but merely to a
biteless one, and adds that he assumes
there was the same difficulty with other
nations" This truth, which some are at
great pains to conceal, is thus let out.
Mr.. Taft is even more severe on the
fraudulent claim that the covenant Gre
ates a control agency, with power to
summon an international posse to sup
press disturber. Not only did France
not succeed in getting an international
police force he blurts out, with terrible
candor, but she did not succeed in Sc
curing a fixed and definite obligation on
the pa of the nations of the league to
furnish military forces to protect the
covenants of the league.
"The only clear, positive obligation of
the members of the league Mr.. Taft
goes on to say, ''is to levy boycott on
the outlaw nation" And again, cit
seems left to a nation to follow it's own
Judgment as to the military forces it is
70 contribute, and not to declare war
at all
This part Of the covenant" con-
cudes Mr.. Taft, surely not overstating,
might be clarified He could have
added that even as to the boycott there
IS no binding pledge
Other things Mr.. Taft acknowledges
should be made more definite-a time
limit to the obligations and reservations
concerning the Monroe Doctrine made
Other ambiguous phrases are seen by
the ex-President When the so-called
executive council meets, he asks, "will
Il need a unanimous vote, or will ma
Jorlty vote be sufficient where there is
no such specification"
On March Mr.. Taft, appearing on
the stump with MIR. Wilson, talked some
WHAT differently. He indicated that the
e0nsti+ copvoo+on Lol ooouo41,,
net, secretly deliberated, mixed it's bot
ue OF medicine, and then had adjourned,
sao that there was nothing left to do but
10 swallow the dose. But Mr.. Taft, tenn
peramentally candid, hastens to amend
bis speech.
The covenant provides weaker CEN
''alizng power than was provided for in
'ne amphictyonic league of Greece or by
me constitution of the old German EN-
pne. The Greeks, registering solemn
oafhs, agreed under terrible penalties
wage war on states not submitting to
arpItration. The Greek constitution
provided for putting the disturber I'M
uer the ban of the empire, with the
Emperor empowered to use his forces
70 enforce it and to impose economic
exclusion. Yet Sparta, Athens and
'neoes waged fearful wars, and the Ger
man states seldom left off fighting. The
a1@orIcal precedents forbid expectation
mat the Shuts Wilson imitation league
"'l interfere with war A false light is
aung out, and it will distract attention
from true ones.
a real peace league is possible through
''ihlng together the nations which have
established peace and now maintain it.
~'' Tear up the alliance and substitute
y'ous resolutions, and the world has
"'''e right to hope. Common power, di-
.s''ed 70 maintaining peace Of justice,
'1'' centre somewhere, or nothing to
Nhe purpose will be done.
me only feasible ccntring is firm
s"aiition among the democratic nations
,'hg national sovereignty unimpaired
4Au postponing the details Of where the
sy"fr IL TO function. The moral basis of
.'l' union must be mutual confidence,
sSs Inc advocates Of an imitation union
ss'''e themselyes to fomentinp dis.
1ass. Such are not peace makers or
sF@ss ioverS~-src planting, and not re.
'''siDg, The seeds Of war.
hs fundamental objection to the