New-York tribune., 1919-03-13
Republican Publicity Body
Cites Change in Views
of En- president Taft
Bourne Issues Statement
Belief i'll EnfaIlibility of the
Paris Covenant Shaken.
Asserts Former Senator
Netc } ork Tribune
!. dsitsrgtOn Rnredtl

ming on the part of former President
Taft and other advocates Of the league
Of nations in their IDEAS as to its per
fections is held up to scorn in state
ment issued here tonight by the Re
publican Publicity Association. through
Jonathan Bourne, jr., former Senator
from Oregon.
at is almost pathetic" says the
statement, ito watch the change Of the
advocates Of the league of nations from
their bold assertions that the new con
stitutlon was the acme of perfection to
semi apologetic statements that while
the idea is good one, the present
language of the constitution needs ex-
tensive revision and carihcation be-
fore it viii be workable. Even Mr.
Taft's utterances, since the Senatorial
protest against the league was sub
scribed to by thirty-nine of the men
who will be called on to pass final
judgment upon it, are filled with ad-
missions of defects in the language
and antiquities in the meaning of the
new constitution.
"Mr. Taft takes pains to remind
the public that the present covenant
is merely a report from a committee
OF the conferences 'Undou btedly,' >
says he, the covenant needs revision.
1t is not symmctrically arranged its
meaning has to be dug out, and the
language is ponderous and in diplo-
matte patois.
League Called Impotent
I'VE are assured by the ex-Presi-
dent that the United States could not
furnish forces for an international
army, to be ordered by the league into
war, without q formal declaration Of
war by Congress and Congressional
authority to use our forces for the
purpose. Yet Of what good is the
league unless ii can depend upon
armed force to enforce its DEGREES, and
what dependence can be placed on
such a force if it's formation is sub
iect to the individual sanction of the
member states of the league Mr..
the manifest impotency of the league
in accomplishing the purpose for
which it is TO be created.
Judge Taft has been so alarmed
by the arguments of the leaguts op-
ponents that he hastens to propitiate
them by declaring that the United
States undertakes only one obliga-
tion if 1t becomes d signatory: The
only clear, positive obligation of the
members Of the league is to levy
boycott on the outlaw nation he
sars Mr.. Taft takes the remarkable
position that q member nation may
refuse to take any part in further
proceedings against an offending state
If 1t is Of opinion that the boycott
is sufficient.
Belief in League Shaken
"Anothor surprising concession by
Mr.. Taft is that the covenant should
also be made more definite as to when
its Obligations may be terminated.
1t is reported in a recent speech in
Now England a woman in his audience
asked Mr. Taft in what way the
United States could withdraw from
the league If it chose to do so. The
reply was: Well, you remember what
happened in the Civil War Here is
another vital point where belief in the
infallibilty of the leagues constitu-
ton has been sadly shaken
"A few days ago Mr.. Taft was posi-
tive that the Monroe Doctrine was not
affected by the league. He now says:
1t should be made more definite by a
larger reservation Of the Monroe
Doctrine Another fault that Taft has
discovered is that no mention is made
of whether 8 majority vote or unanl-
nous vote Of the leagues council is
REQUIRED. There are other ambiguous
phrases naively admits the eX-Presl-
dent.
"'But of thine own mouth will I
Judge thee read the Scriptures. If
MIR. Taft continues to wobble as he
has since the denunciatlon of the
league Of nations in the Senate we will
need but to refer to his own writings
and speeches to find ample evidence
with which to condemn 1t.
Brandegee's Question Evaded
"At the famous White House din
nor to the Foreign Affairs and -Rela-
tions committees of Congress Senator
Brandegee is reported to have asked
the President what would happen il for
instance Brazil should decide to return
to monarchal form Of government and
become once more q part OF the Portu-
guese empire by inviting a prince Of
Portugal to become its ruler. Mr..
Wilson is said to have replied that
such situation would be most dis
trcssinE.
After admitting that the consti-
ton should make specific mention Of
the Monroe Doctrine, Mr.. Taft gives
a most startling opinion of the atti-
tude we may expect Europe to as
sumo toward matters Of the Western
hemisphere. We may be sure says
he they (the nations of Europe) are
entirely willing to leave to the United
States and other American nations
the policing Of the Western hemis-
phere until such time as an American
power shall seek the assistance of
European powers to meet emergencies
on this side OF the ocean.
Are we to believe that Mr. Taft
seriously advocates the adoption of
the Revolutionary policy to which he
gives expression Intervention IN
Western quarrels is exactly what the
Monroe Doctrine was designed to pre-
vent. and yet Mr.. Taft in effect, tells
us that if called upon to do so 10y any
American republic, Europe, through
the league Of nations, presumably will
/ intervene.
"If tnis astounding doctrine had been
in existence when Panama established d
her independence, what would have
happened if Colombia had complained
to the League that the United States
was giving undue assistance tn the
Panamanian revolution 1t is easily
conceivable that war between this coun-
try and England would have resulted
and the Panama Canal would still be n
dream. There was recently "A serious
dispute between Peru and Chile. Would
America, under the Monroe Doctrine
have nermltfcd the Intervention of