Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-25
TAFT LETTERS
HURT INSTEAD
OF AID LEAGUE
Shows Weakening of
Supporters = White
House Not Pleased.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

Washington, D. c., July 25.-For-
mer President Taft's efforts to con
ciliate the opposition to a League
of Nations by concession and com
| promise caused dismay at the
! White house. President Wilson Of
! fered no comment but Mr. Taft's ac-
! tion seemed to create an impression
l there of weakness on his part, a
| readiness to surrender his own
convictions to "the exigencies, per
sonal, partisan and political" which
he says must be recognized in the
present situation.
The president has insisted that
/ his desire to see the peace treaty
and League of Nations ratified with
out reservation is not based on any
personal feeling but a knowledge
of the difficulties in store if the
whole document is opened up to all
nations for change and interpreta-
/ ton
Others Ready for Chance.
Already the French parliament is
waiting for the American senate to
take the initiative before reopentng
the delicate question of the Saare
basin, which kept the peace confer
ence at Ioggerheads for three
months.
Mr. Wilson'S position is that
reservations may seem innocuous to
American senator's, but that foreign
nations would not so regard them.
If Great Britain has assured Sen
ator Lodge that she is ready to ac-
eept reservations, such action not
only is without precedent but would
be astonishing to Mr.. Wilson as the
usual channel of communication on
foreign affairs is through the ex-
ecutive branches ct the two govern
ments.
Not Pleasing to White House.
The White House didn't like the
Taft letter That was plain to see.
Certainly the impression on capitol
hill was that defenders OF the
league were giving ground, were
yielding to the POINT of view OF the
oppositi IN.
Many senator's still view the
peace treaty through the same per-
spective as a piece of domestic leg
islation-fnished when the various
factions have agreed either in COM
mittee or in conference on a COM
promise. But from Mr. Wilson's
standpoint that's where the trouble
begins.
Mr.. Taft has made clear that he
believes the interpretations and
concessions are unnecessary and
that were he a senator he would
vote for the league unamended. In
the opinion of friends of the league,
he did not, therefore, help the cause
by admitting that vital clauses IN
the covenant could be changed and
to some extent sacrificed.
Wilson Opposed to Taft Plan.
The president for example has
steadfastlY opposed the idea which
Mr.. Taft frankly espouses-the
placing of a 10-year limitation on
the obligations by the United States
with, respect to article 10. Mr.. VIII
son has said that this would be
practically serving notice that
America was interested in peace for
only 10 years and was in effect tell
ing the other nations that they
were free to do as they pleased at
the end Of the 10-year period. The
president probably would accept an
Interpretation OF statement saying
that the obligations of article 10
could not be carried out without the
consent of our war-making power,
the congress; though he believes
such statement superfluous, nor
could there be objection to a defin-
ftion or appendix on the Monroe
=
as affecting peculiarly American
circumstances. But a limitation on
article 10 would be regarded as a
change in the substance of the
league and the treaty itself and
precedent for further changes by !
other countries. The situation Is |
! cry much like reopening a revenue
bill when once it comes back from /,
conference between the two houses !
of congress.
Many a senator and representa- |
tive has hitherto voted for a CON
ference report because the alterna- |
tive of defeat was a loss of the |
whole measure, Including the pro- !
visions Objectionable to him.
Republicans Rejoice.
AN6LuA ally q pOAul
of view, the Taft letter caused |
much qualification among Repub- |
licans. They applauded the return !
of Mr.. Taft to their fold and be- |
lieved that his criticism of the4
partisan character of Mr.. Wilson's !
war administration and his failure |
to consult Republicans heretofore !
or to take Mr.. Root to the peace /
conference was sound. And many |
others besides Republicans thought |
Mr.. Taft had spoken aptly no mat
ter how offensive his abrupt re-
marks seem to sensitive minded ad-
officials. 1t is be- I
lieved that the former president /
was not seeking to make any graf
uitous attack on Mr.. Wilson's preyi- /
ous policies but really to help put I
the Republicans in a better frame
Of mind in voting for the treaty
SO that the Republican party would
be freed from the burden OF de-