New-York tribune., 1919-11-09
Other l3 Probably Would Be
Accepted by Powers, He
Tells Large Audience of
Women in Carnegie Hall
For League in Any Form
Let u. S. ssGet Its Foot In
side First,'' and Improve
Covenant Later, He Urges

Former President William Howard
Taft. speaking before the League for
Political Education at Carnegie Hall
yesterday, on STEPS Toward Lasting
Peace" told his audience that thirteen
out of fourteen reservations to the
peace treaty proposed by the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee do not
affect materially the value of the
covenant and probably would be ac-
cented by the other nations. Senator
Reeds reservation, he said, could not
be accepted by the other powers.
Even if the treaty were to be re-
Jcctcd, = the former President said, "thc
campaign that has been fought for the
league would greatly make for progress
"Of course, the campaign has dcvel-
oped some mean spirit, racial prejudice
political portisanship, personal an
tagonism out of keeping with the grand
character of the issue and its impor-
tancc to the world and posterity. Yet
the discussion in the press anG the
/ speeches in the Senate and elsewhere
have had the effect OF accustominc the
pub 'ic mind to the thought Of such
league as practical matter
Urges U. S. Get Foot Inside"
The discussion has developed in the
imaginative objections Of the op-
ponents OF the league great dangers
and difficulties for us if we assume it's
! obligations. That these have been cx-
aTgeratod of course goes without say
ing; and the public has grown to see
that they are exaggerated They are
not now to be frightened by these
!c%alistic hypothesis skilfully thought
out be ingenious lawyers. The people
have grown used to the idea. so that if
! we don't get the league as it is, if we
n
very useful steps toward the future
realization Of our hopes"
Mr.. Taft suggested that the United
States should take what it could get in
connection with the LEAGUE and that
extensions and improvements could
come later.
"If we can only get our foot inside
he door" he said with his character
lstlc gestures, I'VE would be all right"
Assails Reeds Stand
Before analyzing the provisions of
tho fourteen reservations. the forme~
President summed up Senator Reeds
reservation as follows:
az am glad to join your league if
you are bound, and if am not. I
shall be glad to get all the benefit ont
Of it so long as it does not require
me to do anything.' Senator Reed is
avowedly opposed to the league and
this reservation is quite consistent
with his attitude. His reservation,
am very hopeful, may be rejected"
Analysing the other reservations,
Mr. Taft pointed out their implications
and the objections to the reservations.
and added that they would be more
effective and more likely to be acquies-
ced in by the other powers if colched
in more courteous, more diplomatic
and lie s offensive tone"
In discussing the possibility that the
President, should the treaty be con-
ditionally ratified, would ref Sc to sub
mt the reservations to the other ma
tions Mr.. Taft said:
Treaty of Enormous Value
81 sincerely hope that the Demo-
cratic minority in the Senate and tho
PRESIDENT will not take any such view,
and that if they have been so inclined.
/ they will change their minds. The
treaty Will have cnormous value even
with the qualifications thus proposed.
1t VIII be great step forward. 1t
won't accomplish the millnniu,n. l.
vii not abolish war The machinery
Of it will not work without consider
abl crcaking."
Mir Taft urged the Democrats to &C
cept the reservation to Article X mot
because they like it, but because they
m st consent to it in order to secure
the league"
1t would be impossible to secure
siXtyfour votes in the Senate without
this reservation, the former President
dee .ared.
Nh. Taft said he did not think the
other nations would object to the res