The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-08-08
Mr.. Taft's Plan Of interpretive
Reservations May So.ve the
Treaty Problem.
LIKED BY MANY SENATORS
Relations Comn,ittce--AustriaG Gets
Her Peace Terms - News
From Russia Not Cheerful
More Trouble With
Mexico.
BY EDWARD w. PickARD.

William ii. Taft. aetunted by the two
worthy motives of trying To aid in the
speedy stabilizing of world peace and
OF averting possible disaster To his par
ty In the next presidential elections
made Il notable contribution last week
toward the ratification OF the peace
treaty and League of Nations covenant
by the ssnate In letters 10 Republican
National Chairman Hays he suggested
a way In which he thought this might
be brought about with the votes of
those Republican senator's who are
friendly to the league hut are doubtful
concerning certain Of Its articles. Mr..
Taft's plan is that the treaty be rati-
fled with Interpretive reservations"
that would satisfy the consciences OF
those senators and that would he nc
ceptable 10 the administration. These.
not being amendments or fiat reseryB-
tons, would not necessitate the recon-
initial of the pact TO peace confer
ence.
Making II clear that he fayors rati
fication of the treaty as 1t stands, Ia be
amended later by the league II neces
sary, Mr.. Taft declares II To be "the
part of statesmen to recognize the eNi.
gencies. personal. partisan and polii.
Ical of situation In seeking 10 achieve
real progress and reform" He admits
that there are reasonable and sincere
criticisms made against the league and
h..It ~ t..I la
order To obtain the nineteen Republican
votes necessary 10 ratification This he
seeks To do with his suggested reser.
yations. which cover most nf The mr..
ticles criticised hut ignore the Shan.
tnng feature. This latter. he asserts.
has been deliberately exaggerated.
Mr.. Hays looked with favor on Mr..
Taft's plan. and in Washington many
Republican senators were said To he
so impressed with It's value that they
airpady were AT work on program
of interpretive reservations. President
Wilson had been aware ~ the Taft
suggestions for several days. but his nj.
titude toward them WAS not stated.
The administration senators however.
were said To be stll determined 10 al.
tempt to force unreser,ed ratification,
Mr. Wilson, though suffering from n
| slight attack Of Illness. kept up his
work in behalf Of the treaty. calling
| into conference at the White House
number OF the opposing senators.
L - i.t 4.
| dent had not been able 10 change their
views or intentions hy his arguments
and explanations. and the debate In
/ the senate did mol indicate that he
/ had converted any Of them. II Is only
| fair 10 assume that few of these sena.
tors are governed by anything but
patriotism aud honesty In taking the
| attitude they do. hui II il hard to see
anything but parilsanship IN such me-
| ton as that Of the majority of the
! eorpmittee on foreign relations the
other DAY. The president. IN the In.
feresi ri business. asked for authority
| TO appoint Professionally aB American
member Of the interalied commission
/ on PREPARATIONS pending action on the
treaty. This the committee refused.
adopting instead Senator knox's re~o.
| luton declaring:
THAT II is the Judgment Of the com.
| mittee that until the treaty IL ratified
no power exists. either In the presi'
| dent or congress 10 execute any provi-
sion of the proposed treaty. either pro
visionaily or otherwise"
| And yet. only three weeks ago Sen
stor Knox declared that the treaty o'
peace will amply Ia the United siate'
when ratified by three other powers