The Washington herald., 1919-07-24
SENATORS ASTONISHED
BY NEW DEVELOPMENT
President Reported Plan
ming to Again Ask Senate
Committee for Appoint
ment Of American Mem
Der of Reparahons Com
mittee- White House De-
nies Award Stories.

Former President Taft squared
with the stand of Chairman Will
Hays, OF the Republican National
Committee, on the proposed
league of nations covenant yester-
day when he announced that he
favored reservations by the United
States Senate.
Taft's new attitude reached the
Senate in letters sent Senators by
Hays.
Receipt of the letters caused
somewhat of a political sensation.
For several months Taft has stood
very nearly behind the President.
The change OF viewpoint was all
the more startling from the fact
that Taft, in his letter, assumed
the position taken by the Repub-
lican National Chairman a few
days ago.
Opponents of the covenant were
plainly greatly heartened by Taft's
letter.
Important developments yesterday
in the treaty fight in the Senate were
these:
J. The Foreign Relations Co,nmit-
tee was unoficially advised that PresI-
dent Wilson will renew his attempt to
get sanction from the committee for
the appointment of American men,
bers of the Reparations Commission.
II this is done. there will be another
bitter clash between the committee
and the President. as the committee
has already once rejected the Presi-
dents proposal and has no intention
OF giving recognition to the treaty un-
til it has been ratified.
. Copies Of a letter sent by former
President Taft to Chairman Will
Hays. OF the Republican National
Committee, announcing his conversion
TO the belief that reservations should
be made by the Senate on the league
of nations covenant were received
from Mr.. Hays by several Republi-
can Senators. Mr.. Tafts letter is
now being used as the basis for a
compromise between the Democrats
and Republicans in the league fight
Compromise Urged.
3-Republican Senators who con-
ferred with the President, by his in
vitation. told him that compromise
with the league of nations oppon-
ents will have to be made and that
the President himself should take
the iniative in bringing this COM
promise about.
4-Senator Norris made public the
letter which he sent last week to
the President declining the invita-
ton to discuss the treaty at the
White House In his letter, Senator
Norris said he would be embarrass-
ed by receiving condolences from the
President on matters connected
with the treaty. and suggested that
the President should adopt the usual
method of communicating his wishes
to Congress instead of holding pri-
vate conferences.
had changed front On the subject of
reservations was freely discussed
among the Senators. None of those
who received the copies from Hays
was inclined to make the text of the
letter public. although they said they
would be glad il Hays would do so.
Hays was said to be in indianapolis.
Senators Kellogg. Colt. McNary and
Spencer received the copies
silent on shantung.
The reservations suggested by Mr..
Taft cover the points distinctly at
issue in the league fight. They are
directed toward clearing up the un-
certainty regarding Article X, the
Monroe Doctrine and the right of
withdrawal from the league Upon
the question of Shantung. Mr.. Taft
was silent.
Mr.. Taft's reservation with re-
spect to Article X provides that this
article should be construed as being
advisory instead of binding upon
the nations in the league, and that
Congress should have the power to
decide whether troops should be
sent.
A careful digest of the points in
Mr.. Tafts letter, made by one of
the Senators to whom a copy was
sent, Is as follows:
Provision is made for retire.
ment from the league on two years
notice without reservation and that
retirement shall be upon condition
that the United States has fulfilled
all its obligations as a member of
the league. this question of fulfill
rnent to be determined by the coun-
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO