The Washington herald., 1919-10-04
TAFT, IN CAPITAL,
COUNSELS Mild
RESERVATIONS
Former President Advises
Halfway Senators on
Program.

The "mild reservation" Senators
who are hoping TO get the treaty
through without any changes which
Win have to be accepted BY the other
Eignatory powers received the active
help and counsel yesterday OF for
ner President Taft o.. =
Although Mr.. Taft originally was
!. an ardent supporter Of the Pres-
DENTS program for ratification with
out reservations. he is now urging
the acceptance Of mild reserva-
tions- Of an interpretatfve charac-
ter. His visit to the Capitol yes
teriay was for the purpose OF ad-
vising the little group Of Senators
who hold to this view to keep up
their opposition to the program agreed
upon By Senator Lodge and the other
party leaders,
Csnfers with Senators
Mr.. Taft conferred with Senator
McCumber, Of North Dakota. the only
Republican member Of the Foreign
Relations Committee who refused to
agree to the Lodge reservations. and
with Senator Kellogg. Of Minnesota,
and others
Senator Lodge had left for Boston
when Mr.. Taft called. so there was
no conference between the former
President and the Republican leader;
nor did Mr.. Taft call upon any Of
the other Senators who are backing
up Mr.. Lodges program for reserva-
tions on the teaty.
After leaving the Capitol. Mr.. Taft
called at the White House to pay
his respects and leave q message
If regret for. the Presidents illness.
Against Lodge Program
Mr.. Taft's declaration in support
of the mild reservationists places
him in opposition to the policy
which has been followed by the
Senate Republicans under Mr..
Lodges leadership. What the re-
suit of this may be cen only be
surmised, but other Senators yes
terday expressed the belief that It
may provoke Senator Lodge into
making a sharp statement in re-
buke Of Mr.. Taft's action when he
returns next week
Under an agreement by both
sides the treaty went over until
Monday. when the Senate adjourned
yesterday. The Shantung amend
ment Is to be the next amendment
taken up, and while 1t is not be-
Iieved there will be votes enough 10
pass 1t, a larger vote in favor OF
1t is looked for than was recorded
for the Fall amendments Wednes-
day. Several Senators who are in
sympathy with the spirit of the
amendment are working on res
ervation by which they hope to he
able to express the. disapproval by
the United States of the award of
, the Chinese province to Japan.
Jones Pledges Vote.
Similar action is planned IN re-
gard to the johnson amendment to
equalize the voting power of the
United States and the British En-
pire in the league OF nations. A
reservation on the subject of the
voting power has been drafted by
Senator lMcCumber, Senator Edge
and Senator Lenroot which they
will submit to the Senate. Senator
Johnson and Senator Lodge are
both opposed to having a reserva-
tion on this subject and will fight
it in the Senate.
In a speech delivered in the Sem
ate yesterday, Senator Wesley Jones
Of Washington announced that he
would vote for the johnson amend
ment He declared he would not
subscribe to the doctrine that the
British Empire is entitled to more
votes than the United States, ne
would not Justify the sneering
claim in foreign lands, An English
man Is superior to an American,
and the American admits it,"