The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-25
ACTION OF TAFT
CAUSING D|SMAY
AT WHITE HOUSE
Although President Wilson Of
fers No Comment, Feeling
Is That Former President
Has Surrendered.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent of The News
Sclmltar,)

ScImltarsD
WASHINGTON. July 25.-Former
President Taft's effort to conciliate the
opposition to league of nations by
concession and compromise caused dis
may at the White House. President
Wilson offered no comment. but Mr..
Taft's action seemed to create an inn
preston there of weakness on his part,
a readiness to surrender his own convic-
lions to the eXigencies personal, par
tisan and political" which he says
uation.
The president has insisted that his
ueslre to see the peace treaty and
league Of nations ratified without re-
servation is not based on any personal
feeling, but knowledge of the diff
eulties in store II the whole document
is opened up to all nations for change
and Interpretation.
Already the French parliament Is
waiting for the American senate to take
the initiative before reopening the deli
cate question of the Saare basin, which
kept the peace conference at skies and
sevens for three months.
MIR. Wilson'S position is that reserva-
uons may seem innocuous to American
senators but that foreign nations would
not so regard them.
II Great Britain has assured Senator
Lodge that she is ready to accept re-
without precedent, but would be aston
ishlng to Mr., Wilson. as the usual
channel Of communication Of foreign
affairs is through the executive
branches Of the two governments
The White House did not like the
Tait letter; That was plain to see;
Certainly the impression on Capitol
Hill was that defenders of the league
were giving ground, were yielding the
point OF view of the opposition.
Many senators still view the peace
treaty through the same perspective
as a piece of domestic legislation
finished when the various factions have
agreed either in committee or in con-
ference on a compromise. But from
Mr.. Wilson's standpoint that's where
the trouble begins
Has Not Helped Cause.
Mr.. Taft has made clear that he be-
lieves the Interpretation and concessions
are unnecessary and that were he @
senator he would vote for the league
unamended. In the opinion OF friends
Of the league, he did not therefore help
the cause by admitting that vital
clauses In the covenant could be
changed and to some extent sacrificed
fasts for eSamPie has stead
frankly espoused--the placing of q ten
year limitation on the obligations by
the United States with respect to Are
iticle 10. -f
Mr. Wilson has said that this would
be practically serving notice that Amer
lea, was interested In peace for only
10 years and was In effect telling the
other nations that they were, free to.
90 as they pleased at the end Of the
i0-year period, s,8
The president probably would accept
an Interpretation or statement saying
that the obligations of Article 10 could
not be carried out without the consent
OF our war making power, the congress,
though he believes such statement
superfluous.
Nor could there be objection to a
definition or appendix on the Monroe
Doctrine. These could be defended Us
affecting peculiarly American circuAA- |
stances.
But limitation on Article 10 would |
be regarded as a change in the sub
stance of the league shd the treaty it. |
self and preceCe ent for further changes |
by other countries. |
The situation is very much like re- |
opening revenue bill when once II |
comes back from a conference between |
the two houses of congress. Many a |
senator and representative has hitherto |
voted for a conference report because |
the alternative of defeat was a loss |
of the whole me asIre including the pro-
visions Objectionable to him.
G. o. r Gratified.
Naturally, from political point of |
view the Taft letter caused much graf
ification among Republicans. They APP
plauded the return of Mr., Taft to their |
fold and believed that his criticism OF |
the partisan character of Mr.. Wilson'S |
war administration and his failure to
consult Republicans heretofore or to
take Mr. Root to the peace conference
was sound.
And many others besides Republicans
thought Mr. Taft had spoken aptly, no
matter how offensive his abrupt re-
marks might seem to sensitive minded
officials
It Is believed that the former presi-
dent was not seeking to make any
sratuitous attack on, Mr.. Wilson'S pre-
vious policies, but really to help put
The Republicans in a better frame of
mind in voting for the treaty, so that
he Republican party would be freed
frcm the. burden OF defeating the
.reaty" and it's issue removed from the
lext political campaign.
'Ihe former presidents letters are,
however, evidence of another thing
hat Mr.. Wilson's efforts at personal
persuasion have not peen very sue
,essful. Practically a score of Repub-
leans must be brought into agreement
With the As Democrats who stand by
he president in order to get the treaty
'atified. Mr.. Taft sees the opposition
and irreconcilable.
Mr.. Wilson has still another card to
,lay-the American people. He thinks
sentiment will change after
he people have been given all the
acts. II he does intend to compromise
n the end, or II he Is obliged to yield,
t is certainly not Wisonian to do so
It a moment when he thinks public
opinion is his way. And that Is what
Mr.. Wilson has confidently asserted
hat an Overwhelming body of public
,pinion wanted the league established
irst and correction and revision made
lfterward
Copyright, 1919, by The News Scmi-
tar.)