New-York tribune., 1919-03-31
Continued from page l

"a meet this obvious demand. ] am,
with great respect, sincerely yours,
WILL II. HAYS, Chairman.
Root Outlines Views
The reply of Mr.. Root was as follows:
New York, March %, 1919.
Hon. Will H. Hays, Chairman Repub-
lican National Committee, 452 Fifth
Avenue, New York City.
Dear Sir: | have received your letter
of March "a and l give you herewith
at perhaps inordinate length my views
regarding the proposed convention for q
league of nations.
am sure that all of us earnestly
desire that there shall be an effective
International organization to preserve
the peace of the world, and that our
country shall do its full share toward
the establishment and maintenance of
such an organization. | do not see
much real controversy about that
among the American people, either be-
tween parties or within parties or
otherwise.
There is, however, serious question
whether the particular proposed agree
ment which is now under discussion by
the peace conference in Paris under
the title "Constitution of a league of
nations" will accomplish that end in
its present form. and whether it can
not be made more effective and free
from objection A careful study of the
paper under the urging of intense in
tercst in the subject has led me to the
conclusion that large part of its pro-
visions will be of great value; but that
it has very serious faults, which may
lead to the ultimate failure of the
whole scheme unless they are rene
died, and some faults which unneces-
sarily and without any benefit whatever
to the project tend to embarrass and
hinder the United States in giving its
full support to the scheme.
Wants Important Amendments
| think there should be several very
important amendments to the agree
ment.
This seems to be the general view.
Mr.. Taft, who joined the President in
advocating the agreement, says it ought
to be amended almost as strongly as
his former Secretary of State, Senator
Knox, says the same thing. When Mr.
Lodge and Mr.. Lowell had their great
debate in Boston, both said the agree
ment ought to be amended.
A discussion of the merits and faults
Of the scheme with view to amend
ment is now the regular order Of brsi-
ness. 1T was to give an opportunity
for such a discussion that the paper
was reported to the Paris conference
and made public by the committee that
prepared it,
At the time of the report, Lord Rob
ert Cecil, who represented Great Brit
am in the committee, said: ~ rejoice
very much that the course which has
been taken this afternoon has been
pursued. 1t seems to me a good omen
for the great project in which we are
engaged that before its final completion
it should have been published to the
world and laid before all its people
Tor their service and for their criti-
cism."
signore Orlando, who represented
ilaiy, said: We all expect from the
present act q renewal of the whole
world. but, as the present debate has
Tor its object to bring the whole
scheme before the pubic opinion of the
world, wish to bring to that debate
my personal contribution"
Favored Public Discussion
NJ. Leon Bourgeois, who represented
france IN the committee, said: Lord
hopert Cecil has said we now present
10 the conference and to the world the
result of our work; but we do not pre-
sent 1t as something that is final, but
ohiy as the result of an honest effort,
10 be discussed and to be examined
not only by this conference but by the
public opinion of the world"
AT that very time NJ. Bourgeois sug-
gested an amendment about which I
snail say something presently, and he
vent on to say: THE observations we
nave made on some points will, we
nope' De OF some value in the further
discussions, since we are at the be-
ginning of the examination of the
whole plan"
these gentlemen represented all the
great Allies by whose side we have
been lighting in Europe, and it is nlain
that they expected and wished thai tha
scheme which they had reported should
DC subjected to public discussion and
criticism In their own countries and in
ours 1t is also plain that they saw no
reason why the proposed agreement
should be rushed through in such haste
that there would not be an opportun;tv
ior public discussion and criticism and
ior communicating the results to the
conference
Deplorcs Tie-up Of Senate
Under our Constitution it is the
business Of the Senate to take the lead
"a Such discussion, to compare the
oiherent opinions expressed in the
several states and to draft in proper
form the amendments which the public
Judgment seems TO call for. II is un-
fortunate that the Senate has not been
permitted TO perform that duty in this
case. IL seems to me that the Senate
eught TO have been convened for tina,
purpose immediately after the 4th of
Aarcn. in addition to the regular and
extra sessions Of Congress the Senate
mas oeen convened separately in special
session forty-two times since ii was
erst organized, ordinarily to confirm a
appointments or pass on unimpor-
Aht treaties-neyer for any reason
more ,r important than exists now.
mere is a special reason Why the
senate should consider this proposed
resment. Ordinarily treaties are
ssetiated by ambassadors, ministers
y delegates, and their work is super.
s,d s.eed and corrected IL need be by the
wsslent wsIoent and Secretary of State at
wasnington, who from their different
yyiht OF view frequently see things the
aetual Gegotiators overlook In this
s1se, since the President himself In ne
sosiaslng the treaty in Paris. there Is
~ one In Washington TO supervise the
1sKotiation, and there Is no one with
minority 10 give the negotiators the
Dshsnt Of independent official judp-
Ment, unless the Senate IL TO perform
Nat function.