The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1919-07-31
ES.President Taft Suggests lnteTpre'
tatiunS.

ing and offers suggestions as TO in
terpreta,ions that the Senate OF the U.
S. might we'll make to the League OF
Nations covenant. MIR, TAFT, it will
understood, has been widely quoted
by Covenant supporters, and his sup
port has been unqualified. The letter
is too long Tor this publication, but we
reprint pertinent extracts:-
The letter dated Pointe A Pic,
Qlebec, follows.
MY Dear Mr.. Hays-In what l
said yesterday did not 60 over the
various interpretations and reservations
because l thought that in our pre-
vious correspondence they were SUI
fciently explained. l think it wise,
now that I have formulated them, after
a good deal OF thought, to take up my
reasons in detail for suggesting them.
Speaking generally, wish TO EN-
phasize my conviction that the United
States Senate might we'll ratify the pres
ent treaty without any reServatisnS or
interpretations. l am confident that
the actual operations Of the treaty
alter ratification would bring about ex-
actly the same results as that which
would be attained by the acceptance
oithese interpretations and reservations,
but 1t seems TO me TO be the part Of
statesmen 10 recognize the exigencieS
personal, partisan and political, Of
situation in seeking 10 achieve real
progress and reform.
The situation which conirontS US
now In reference 10 the ratification Of
the treaty is one created BY very ser
ious mistakes OF policy committed by
Mr.. Wilson. The partisan character
Of his administration during the war,
together with his appeal to his country
men TO elect democratic congress in
1918, created a condition Of personal
and political antagonism toward him
among Republican leaders which was
shared by a ma lority Of the American
people. This was shown In the re-
suits Of the election. Notwithstanding
this, Mr.. Wilson persisted in continu
Ing the same partisan exclusion Of Re-
publicans in dealing with the highly
important matter Of settling the re-
suits Of the war. He selected a com
mission in which the Republicans had
no representation and in which there
were no prominent Americans oil any
real experience or leadership in public
opinion. With such commission
hi, unusual course Of going abroad
himself, as president, greatly empha
sized the personal element in tht
framing OF the treaty and greatly in
tensifed the general tendency to op
pose anything that he might brinI
home, because Of his apparent wish Il
dictate the policy Of the world and Il
monopolizs the credit ior it.
I feel that some Of the defects G
the league Of nations are due TO him
/ am confident tina, he prevented tn
adoption Of the plan Of the League
Enforce Peace in respect 10 an intel
national court and the settlement {
justiciable questions. This was, | a.
advised, in the English plan, but. We
studiously omitted from the very sati
factory American plan, His preiudic
against courts is we'll known. ArticI
10, think, is due primarily to hin
because It is merely the embodimeI
Of the last Of ihe fourteen point
While it came from his suggestion,
suited the demands Of the French,
far as It went, and I believe It TO
now the heart Of the league in tsndlr
10 unite the forces Of the world in p
lice duty to suppress wars Of conque!
The power Of amendment contain'
within the terms Of the league oft
full opportunity to remedy the deiec
Of the league with reference TO 4
international court and in other
specls. The great point which ST
porteu Of the league Of nations nO
should seek Is the establishment Of
basis upon which, through amendme
the league can be perfected. It is I