The sun., 1919-03-18
TAFT SPLIT UP
THELEAGUETO
ENFORCE PEACE
Serious Differences Over
Backing Given to Ma
q itOns' Covenant.
WILSON IDEAS RIDDLED
Organization Not in Favor Of
: LOwell's Stand-Scnate
3 Opposition Grows.
Special Despatch TO The suS.

HI Special Despatch TO The Sun
~ WASHINGTON, March 17.--Serious DIFF
.tferences of opinion among officers OF the
iHeague to Enforce Peace, headed by
lfwilliam II. Taft. have occurred as re-
ksult OF the public utterances of the ex-
iPresident It was learned to-day by THE
jssrN.
,E According to this information atten-
,gtlon has been called to the fact that
itbere has not been meeting of the ex
jfecutive council of the League To Enforce
isPeace since the League of Nations cove
,spant was made public. Strong exception
ikhas been taken TO the speeches and writ
lfjngs of Mr.. Taft and President Lowell OF
Harvard University for seeking TO com
Anit the League to Enforce Peace to the
isprinciplcs embodied in the League OF
tNations pact
tk The position has been taken by some
,smembers of the League TO Enforce Peace
that there is nothing in the principles of
ftthat organization committing II to such
liz league rs drawn up at the Peace Con-
.fSerence and that as n matter of fact they
Gre opposed to any such covenant as the
lfPresident has announced repeatedly he
iswilt try to force the Senate to ratify.
III There has been some pressure extended
70 bring about a meeting Of the officers
of the League to Enforce Peace 80 that
khis phase OF the situation could be made
lclear to the public. According to the In
formation which has reached here It is
Respected that undoubtedly there Is
good deal for support for the position
'tfaken by Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Lowell, but
the contention that it represents the
Feeling OF the league generally has been
directly questioned.
iB Denial Is Made.
IN II has been expressly denied that the
jpositton taken by Mr.. Taft and Mr..
Howell Is at all in accord with the ideas
and principles upon which the League to
Enforce Peace was founded. That league.
IN was pointed out. never has contem-
plated the surrender of American SOW
'skeignty as n condition to the formation
~ such an association OF nations. Neither
lhas 1t ever lent its support to any propo-
sition involving purely national Jurisdic-
Hon over purely domestic questions, such
O. immigration, the size of the army and
pavy and many other points which the
Wilson league would put in other hands.
~ Sharp issue has been taken with the
views OF the former President and with
Mr.. Lowell for apparently committing
Ithe League to Enforce Peace to support
the other covenant TO the extent of
favoring the entry of the United States
INTO league in which European and
Asiatic nations would completely out
fIass the voting strength of this country.
putting America into the hands of the
governments of the Old World COM
pletely in all of the many matters in
Which the proposed league would have
hand.
II is known these matters have been
brought to the attention OF Mr.. Taft.
and it is understood to the attention OF
Mr.. Lowell also.
Il situation Grows Confused.
The whole situation respecting the
Presidents intentions in regard to the
Nations League covenant IL more con-
fused than ever 40 far as Washington Is
concerned, as a result Of the rapid fire
+ exchange OF assertions and denials with
regard to the manner IN which the cove
nant 10 TO be presented to the Senate.
The Presidents cable to Mr.. Tumulty,
MS secretary, stating emphatically the
covenant would be interviewer with the
peace treaty for time convinced Sena~
tors here that they would have the un-
pleasant duty of refusing TO ratify the
peace treaty II the league pact was go
worked into II that 1t could not be re-
moved without the operation proving ia
tai to the treaty of peace itself. Then
followed the assurance from Stephen
Pfchon., the French Foreign Minister,
that IStie covenant would not form
parts6fSfse first treaty of peace but OF
tater treaty, but this grain of comfort
was lost again by cabled denials repre-
kenting the@Presidents attitude to. be
nat NJ. Pichon was mistaken or his
words misinterpreted 1.l a.
k.There the matter rests for the moment
90 far as the Senators are concerned.
There is no suggestion OF a gap In their
ranks as the result of executive pressure.
Their position remains the same as It
was the night the original thirty-seven
fsied the pledge not TO vote TO ratlfy
The league covenant in the form In which
the President has insisted it must re-
main.
The only change since that day has
been the addition OF Senatorial recruits
u the stand taken by these thirty seven.
THE nest dAS two more Republicans
Signed the pledge. Four others have in
dicated clearly that they stand OPP
posed. Nine D'r'ocrats are counted upon
Dr. foes OF the Wilson idea, making In all
1fty-two members.
b II requires only thirty-three Senators
b block ratif cation of any treaty.