The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-05
Full Text of Address
 Former President Taft
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I (Continucd from Page One) sphere our own preserve, in which we may
 impose our sovereign will on the will o1
 other countries in their own interest, be. | cause, indeed, we have done that in the
 past, should not be sustained" he said l our conquests of oHr western territory
 Of course, have worked greatly for the civilization of the world and for our own
 usefulness and the happiness of those who
 now occupy that territory; but we have
 reached a state in the worlds history
 when it's progress should be now deter /, mined and secured under just and peace
 full conditions and progress through con-
 quest by powerful nations should be pre- l vented." Mr Taft said he would have no objec- | ticn and would favor recognition of the Monroe doctrine by specific words in the 1 covenant with further provision tha. the settlement of purely American ques- tions should be remitted primarily to the American nations with machinery like | that of the present league, and that Flu ropean nations should not intervene unless | requested to do So by the American na- | tions.
 DESIRE OUR AID The European nations desire our en- trance into this league, not that they may SOii~i VI @ailSi ltd, Otit u secure our dlu ia controlling Europe, and l venture to ] think that they would be relieved if the
 primary duty of keeping peace and polio ing this western hemisphere was reIe- gated to us and our western colleagues. I object, however, to such a reservation as was contained in The Hague confer ence against entangling alliances, because the recommendation was framed before the demonstrations of this war and con- inoC tf tl,a InI
 policy against entangling alliances that are inconsistent with the needs of this
 nation and the needs of the world to se- cure the peaceful future of both.'
 After reminding his audience that no
 critic had offered $'a single construc- tive suggestion in the way Of substi
 ute plan. Mr Taft entered upon a dis cussion of the legal aspects of the pro,
 ject. The proposed covenant he said, was nothing more than contract fol
 the benefit of the contracting parties
 1t created no "super-sovereignty," he maintained, adding that "the only sover- eighty we have it that sanctioned by
 international law"
 The first important covenant with ref erence to peace and war in the consti- tuition of the league he continued, lis that looking to a reductionyof armament by all nations. Having reached con- Siuoloi dS u tHS PiOpOItlOIldl6 li1llllo of each nations armament, the leagues executive council submits it's conclusion to each nation. which may or may not agree to the limit thus s.recommended but when an agreement is reached between a nation and the executive council it covenants to keep within that limit until by application to the executive council the limit may be raised. In other words. each nation agrees to its own limta tion. Having so agreed it must keep within it.
 The importance of providing for reduction of armament every one recog nizes. It is affirmed in the newly pro- posed Senate resolution. Can we not trust our Congress to fix limitation safe for the country and stick to it? It we can't no country can. let the rest are anxious to do this. They are far more, exposed than we.
 SHOULD BE LIMITED
 "The character of this obligation is. affected by the time during which the covenants of the league continue to bind. In my judgment there should be a period of 10 years for permission for any member of the league to withdraw from the covenant by giving reason- able notice of one or two years of it's intention to do so.''
 MI Idll tOOh SACtptlOIi lO tIle dTSu- ment that membership in the league might force upon the United States arbi- tration of the Japanese. immigration question: He said it was preposterous to assume that all the other nations of the world would unite their military forces to compel Us to receive Japanest immigrants under the covenant Why should they not do so without the cove nant?"s he asked.
 sThe former President asserted that the league provision prohibiting war until three months after an arbitration award or a recommendation of compromise was the great restraint upon war imposed by the covenant upon members and non He showed how the penal- izing clause. subjecting a covenant breaking nation to boycott of its com mercial. trade, financial, personal an6 official relations with other countries, would be powerful international weapon for the enforcement of peace.
 The former President declared that the world was fin sight of league of peace, of what I have ever regarded as the promised land.''
 He asserted that 'our profound sympa- thy in his purpose and our prayers foI his success should go with President Wilson in his great mission for recess appointments of of the Currency John Skelton