The sun., 1919-06-22
ROOT ADVISES
SENATE TO L0P
OFF COVENANT
In Letter to Lodge He Con-
demns Article X. as Too
Dangerous.
MAY SHACKLE AMERICA
He Urges Ratification of the
Treaty With Reservations
-Missive Causes Stir.
MAY sHACKLE AMERICA
Special Despatch 10 THr Sun.

WASHINGTON, June 51.--Elthu Root
has written Henry Cabot Lodge, the
Republican leader in the Senate and
chairman Of the Committee on For
eign Relations, a letter in which in
unqualified terms he expressed his
approval Of the Republican policy of
separation Of the League of Nations
covenant from the peace terms with
Germany as provided by the Knox reso-
luton now pending in the Senate.
Republican leaders bslieve that the
arguments advanced by the former
Secretary Of state IN his letter will
have tremendous effect in recrys-
tallizing and resoiidifying the Repub-
lican opposition to the inclusion Of the
burdensome obligations Of the league
covenant in the peace treaty.
The letter created tremendous stir
In the Senate. where definite word
from Mr.. Root has been awaited with
grave attention on the part Of all Re
publican Senators, even including
some Of those who have disclosed an
element Of lukewarmness in their
support of Senator Knox's recent
course. In his letter Mr.. Root criti-
cised the present form Of the covenant
as stopping far short Of providing a
new or efficient means of promoting
arbitration. He condemned the clause
inserted as sop to the American
critics Of the league whereby the
admitted, as erroneous in its descrip-
ton Of the doctrine itself and am
biguous in meaning"
Nr. Roots Letter.
Mr.. Root said that the covenant was
framed to hold in the thraldom OF
membership a nation desiring to re-
nounce it's status as a member nation.
With a word he dismissed the alleged
notifications OF Article X. as arranged
in the conference as failing to limit
the stupendous obligation of partici-
patton in intra- European political
squabbles on the part OF America. He
went so far as to express the belief
that Article X. would be forever ar
| occasion for controversy and doubted
that after such a provision had been
in effect for ten years 1t would be
possible to enlist the force and power
OF a nation to its support. The let
ter follows:
NEW York, June 19, 1919.
"The Hon. Henry Cobot Lodge, Wash
fnOton, d. C.
my DEAR SIR: You are good enough
to ask that after studying the whole
Of the proposed treaty with Germany
and the amendments already made to
the League OF Nations part OF 1t
should write you my opinion as to the
amendments and as to the action which
would be wise in view OF existing inter.
national conditions.
! II should be glad TO see the peace
terms and the League Of Nations cove.
| nant separated as proposed In the reso
luton offered by Senator Knox, so that
/, the latter could be considered by tn,
people of the country without coercion
from the necessity OF speedy peace.
ITO avoid repetition enclose a copy
OF letter which / wrote to Mr. VIII H
Hays March 20, 1919. proposing amend
ments to the League OF Nations cove
nant. and giving the reasons for them
Amendments similar In substance wer,
! proposed at about the same time BY
many Americans familiar with public
affairs both in and out OF the Senate
The amendments subsequently made II
the covenant by the Paris conference
while to some extent dealing with the
subjects OF the amendments 20 proposed
are very inadequate and unsatisfactory
Nothing has been done to provide fol
the reesta bllshment and strengthening o
! Continued on Fourth Pa0e.