Arizona republican., 1919-03-12
TAFT. ANALyzES ALI
 ARCUMENTSOF KNOX
 IN SPEECH AT N. '.
Intimates Pennsylvania Sen ator Not Sincere; Answers Point at Time; Goes into Technical Discussion

NEW YORK, March 11.-Analyzing Senator Konx' objections to the pro- posed covenant of the league of na- tions, former President William H. Taft, in an address here tonight before the Economic club, declared that the covenant does not transfer the sov- ereignty of this nation to the govern ing body of the league" which Senator Knox asserts the executive council to be-"
 When Senator Knox attack on the validity of the covenant is analysed 1t will seem to rest on an assumption that the executive council is given eX- ecutive powers. which is unwarranted by the text of the covenont," said MT. Taft. "The wohle function of the ex- ecutive council is to be the medium through wchich the league members are to exchange views, the advisory board to consider all matters arising in the field of the leagues activity, and to advise the members as to what they ought, by joint action, to do.
 The council makes few if any orders binding upon the members of the league. After a member of the league has agreed not to exceed a limit of ar mament. the executive council must consent to raising the limit. Where the executive council acts as medi- ating and inquiring body to settle diff ferences not arbitrated, it's unanimous recommendation of a settlement must satisfy the nation seeking relief, if the defendant nation complies with the recommendation.
 These are the only cases in which the United States, as a member of the league, would be bound by action of the executive council.
 Knox Indictment Falls
 "All other obligations of the United States under the league are to be found in the covenants of the league and not in any action of the executive council When this is understood clearly the whole structure of Senator Knox in dictment falls"
 MT. Taft asserts that article XIV, the penalizing section, does not require members of the league to make war against a nation violating this section.
 MT. Taft adds that ''an act of war does not produce state of war unless the nation acted against chooses to de- clare and wage war on account of it." The executive council, he said, lis given the duty of recommending what forces shall be furnished by members Ol lIt ltdkut lO PIOltCI Lilc NONtndlllS of the league"
 Quoting Senator Knox as stating that the executive council was vested with power to declare war, MT. Taft con- tinued:
 q submit in all fairness that there never was a more palpable monsequitur than this. I venture to think that were Senator Knox charged as secretary of state with construing the obligations of the United States under this cove nant, he would. in behalf of the United States, summarily reject such a con- struction, unless the words used make such delegation clear.
 Article VIII provides that the ex- ecutive council shall determine for the consideration and action of the several governments, what military equipment and armament is fair and reasonable in proportion to the scale of force laid down in the program of disarmament formulated by it. and these limits when adopted, shall not be exceeded without the permission of the execu tive council. This leaves wholly to the governments the acceptance or rejec- tion of the proposed limitation.
 Analyses Senator's Statement
 Senator Knox says that as this rec ommendation will be made with the consent of our representative on the council, we shall be in honor bound to accept the limit and bind ourselves It is difficult to follow this reasoning The body which is to accept the limita- ton is the congress of the United | States. Why should the congress of the United States be bound by a rep resentative. selected by the president to represent the Unitd States in this | function, in respect to a matter o1 1 great importance under the control o1 | congress?
 That the United States should rec | ogniZe the wisdom of a reduction O armament under a world plan for it seems manifest. The history of com petitive armaments, with its dreadful sequel, are too fresh in the minds O the peoples of the world not to recog nize the wisdom of the agreed reduc tion.
 | By what manner of reasoning cal the word recommend be converted into a word of direction or command Yet upon this interpretation of tn
 meaning of the words recommend
 advise and words of like import, a
 they occur in many articles, depend
 his whole argument as to the power
 of the executive council under tn
 covenant and their super sovereign
 character"