The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-06
ARTICLE TEN AND
IRISH QUESTION
Former President Taft Dis.
cusses This And Othsr
Points.
q WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT.

BY WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT.
one objection to the League of Ma
lions sometimes heard is that we could
called in to help Great Britain sup
bfes an Irish rebellion. Why? Under
ticle Ten 1t is provided that all
members shall preserve against exter-
aggression the territorial integrity
aid existing political independence OF
lie members of the League. That
means aggression by foreign countries.
therefore, the suppression of a rebel
ion5does not come within Article Ten,
nor within any other article of the
League. If a country has a revolution,
lt can attend to 1t, itself. If the party
which Institutes the revolution sue
ceeds, 1t will be recognized, as other
ations who were created thus (who
haEe succeeded) have been recognized
by other countries, and then 1t will be
admitted into the League. That OBJ
lection Is made not out of careful
and kind consideration for the Irish,
but with a view to arousing their votes
against the League.
The second objection is the one that
there are more brown, black and yell
low people in the world than there are
whites; and that, as this is conyen-
ton Of all the nations, league OF all
nations, there will be more Variegated
coioTed constituents than there are
whites; and that in some way or an
ofher. which he does not explain, we
are going to have Negro domination;
that the Negroes Of South Africa will
unite with the Negroes OF Panama,
and then the Yellows, the four hun
dfed million of China, and the three
hundred million of Indian, will all
tinite and then we are going to be
made brown, black or yellow, or come
under that domination. 1t is not ex-
planned how, 1t is not suggested how
that Conspiracy is to be formed, nor,
when formed, how it is to work out
under the provisions of the League.
The Assembly can elected new mem
befs 1t can recommend settlement
and It can advise as to the inconsis-
fency between treaties and the obli-
cations Of the League. Now, how,
under that machinery, are those col
ofsd gentlemen going to obtain the
tyranny that the objector has shown?
What Is the object of such a speech?
10 to stir up the Southern constitu-
encies who are sensitive on the sub
iect Of Negro domination, and have
them write their Senators who have
Indicated purpose to support the
League, so they may be induced to
Vote against 1t.
Then the third objection is the
dreadful disclosure that the League
Is Catholic conspiracy for the pur"
pose Of giving the Pope temporal
power over us all. This diligent gen.
tleman In hunting objections has
counted the nations and found that
there are more Catholic nations than
Protestant, and they are going to give
the Pope world power. Just how 1t is
10 81 worked out, he does not explain.
The Pope Is not a member OF the
League, cannot be elected member
of the League. And even II he could
he, II is a little difficult to see how he
could gain any temporal power there
The recommendations Of settlement
OF disputes under the League have
10 he made by the unanimous judg-
aent Of the council, and, If you appeal
70 the assembly, both by the unani-
nous judgment Of the countries whose
representa- constitute the council,
and q majority of the other members
Of The League. Suppose the Pope
were In dispute seeking temporal
power Consider the council on this
ssues There is the United States.
How much will insist on the tenn
pora power Of the Pope?
Then take France. France has been
a odds with the church for twenty
five years, and does not admit the
church. in any way into its govern
rhen take England. England's king
loses his throne II he becomes Roman
catholic
Then take Japan. She is shintoist
md Buddhist She is very likely to
vote for the temporal power Of the !
and italy. Italy has been for half
j century ever since it was a united
nation keeping the Pope out Of tenn
,ofal power.
There you have the unanimous vote
VI NE Council against such moon !
nine for that is all 1t amounts to.
WHAT s the treaty making power?
eems to me that there is a great
hi conception Of its scope. There
ne mary Who argue that the treaty
neking power may not extend to