Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-07-24

defeat radical reservations In n.
ture Of amendments likely to cor.
the majority in the foreign r,,.s
committee. These recommend.ss
have to be voted for by Borah
de- to bring them out Of the 60. . o.
tee. II. as I hope, Mccumber NIL, ali'
against them. After their def.,, .a wa
hope may be accomplishing \, ass
Democratic votes with three BE
cans against them. then the ds.% u'h'
win be on. '0l0es
"The Democrats and thres D..
cans can defeat Amendments ~. spa0l-
can not ratify the treaty. slxts., s' as'
Republicans are needed. ". n 1'h
SUM there are that number o, s p.,
licans who are friendly to N. 1epuS'
Of Nations and are anxious :. asN
the treaty and relieve the Rso.,ss aus
party from the burden Of def.at,." D.sa
We can b sure also that the nsna
Who favor the treaty will h. ."Nti
to have a ratification. il no, 80
reservations. then with reser.aa u
that do not destroy its effect au@s
1T is at such times 7 .o,
when suggestions Of the ch,S h
I have made. can perhaps hs ns
MY view. therefore, is +h.. u'au
would better keep our corresno.y@ y@
confidential until the Issue a0sas ;s .
clearly drawn. Then it NAV he aa aa
sible for me to be useful Wit, M ~
Democrats. because they know .a
In favor Of ratification of the ~. q
without reservations or amers.V
II possible. and thus stand 'a S.as
them. Understand me. I h.r. a
desire to appear as the autho, y
a compromise, and I am entirely NV
ing and anxious to suppress ~, ~
lation. If by so doing it viii, t,.s Nv
tate a satisfactory ratification =, ' a'
treaty. on.y wish to helm r.. Wv
ana when can. and I wish to avoN I
injury to the cause by complete @ s.s
effacement. IL that will help wy
Il am glad to know from Won ~,
you approve the compromise 7 h,,.
suggested and that you believ. y
Keeping the matter confidential us,a
later time when it may be us.st
to act. l feel that it would p.rh...
De wiser not to consult Mr.. Roo, \.
all, and certainly not Mr.. Lodse an,
his sympathetic associates ON n.
foreign relations committee, unt,, ~
situation is more fully developed AVA
issues are more clearly drawn,
i am sending a copy of this .ts,
TO Mr.. Hilles with the hope that van
and he may confer in furtheranc. \
our common object, which is. tha, :
securing a ratification Of the trsa,v
a freeing Of the Repus,ican ua,s
nom the burden of defeating M
treaty and the removal of its iss,..
from the deXt political campairn
"As always,
Sincerely yours,
- Nv. H. TAFT"
With a statement that his aet,m
was being taken with the approval 4
the president, Senator Norris mad
public his letter declining an iuvn.
ton to discuss the League Of N,
tions with the president. The let,s
follows:
1 acknowledge RECEIPT Of your M.
ter requesting me to come to I'm
White House to discuss with YOU I'M
provisions of the peace treaty with
Germany.
An unwritten law, universsily a
spected. prohibits members of cu.
gress from giving publicity to iuto.
nation obtained and converatiou
taking place. at conferences such y
you propose. Our conversation u
such a conferene would undoub,sdy
cover many phases Of the subes
with which am already somexM
familiar and therefore, in any tptun
pubic discussion Of the subject, eth.
er In the Senate or elsewhere, miss
nnd myself embarrassed in the use 4
information I already possessed,
that by Independent investigation
may be able to obtain.
Moreover, 1t Is not fair b ~
tnat your valuable time should b
taken up In going over with each s
dividual senator a lengthy arsumut
In favor OF ratification Of the trar
without amendment. I hope, ther.
fore. you will pardon me when |
most respectfully suggest that ym
follow the method prescribed in the /
constitution in communicating 70
the Senate any information that'a
your wisdom is deemed advissbk
such a course would not only con.
serve your time and energy but
would give to all our countrymen y |
well as to the Senate. the benefit d
your valuable argument and ID.
vice"