The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-08-01
TAFT ATTEMPTS
TO SPEED PEACE
PROPOSES COMPROMISE BASIS
WHEREBY SENATORS CAN
AGREE ON TREATY
IDEA MEETS WITH FAVOR
Republicans Confident Of Success for
Their Plan and Believe President
viii Not Oppose Their Inter
pretations of Document

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Interpretations In senate acceptance
of the league of nations has been
suggested by former President Taft in
the hope of uniting on middle ground
enough Democratic and Republican
senator's to defeat any radical amend
ment Of the covenant and in the end
obtain its ratification.
The suggestion has been received
with earnest consideration by the
group of Republicans who favor the
league idea and who already are at
work on definite program of inter-
pretative reservations which they de-
clare they have reason to believe VIII
be accepted by the administration. The
administration leaders, however, I'M
willing to concede that any reserva
tons will be necessary, still insist they
will have the votes when the time
comes to ratify the covenant as it is.
Expect President to Accept.
So confident are the league Repub-
licans of the success of their plan that
some of them believe President VIII
son will publicly accept it to smooth
the way of acceptance of the league.
Some Republican senators who have
seen the president in the last few
days have come away from the White
House with the impression that Mr..
Wilson might not be averse TO such
as would leave the
league fabric unimpaired. They say,
hot iS nor
based on any direct statement by the
president.
Creates Sensation.
Mr.. Taft's suggestion, which created
a sensation in the senate because OF
his well known advocacy of unreserved
ratification. was embodied in two let
ters to Will II. Hays, the Republican,
national chairman, copies of which
reached some Republican senator's
Yesterday They touched upon many
features Of the treaty controversy, and
the former presidents be-
ief that only by acceptance of some
could the treaty be rati-
led.
Six interpretations.
Six specific Interpretation proposals
ire outlined which Mr.. Taft says he
q convinced will meet the objections
# large group of Republicans who
avor the league He counts As Demo-
ratio senators as supporting the
PRESIDENT in the treaty fight and says
hat had three Republicans been com
nitted to vote against material amend
nents, no such proposals could re-
Give senate ajority.
Suggests Suppression.
The former president suggested to
fr. Hays that his name be withheld
or the present in connection with
he Interpretation plan since it might
ntagonize some senators of his party
,hairman Lodge of the foreign rela-
ions committee, who he named in that
onnection, declined to make any COM
lent on the Taft letter.
Mr.. Taft also has written some Of
he Republican senators, who under
ne leadership of Senators McCumber,
forth Dakota. and McNary, Oregon,
ave been Interested in formulating
middle course for solution of the
enate situation. 1t is understood that
enators kellogg, Minnesota Colt,
hode Island, and Spencer, Missouri,
lso have been consulted in the inter-
SITS of such a plan.
In one of his letters to Mr.. Hays Mr.
aft severely criticised President Will
IN for his partisan course during
le war and in the peace negotiations,
nd. in the other gave the impression
lat no serious opposition is to be
Jared to any portion of tha peace
.eaty except the league covenant. The
hantung provision. he wrote, had been
lie subject of deliberate exagger-
hon.
While the letters We're being cireu-
ted among Republican senator's yes
rday the first public expression on
,e Shantung settlement came from
le White House in a statement de-
airing altogether false" published
ports that the president had forinu-
ted the provision. The statement
,ntinued that Mr.. Wilson had Tex
ted all the influence he was at lib
ty to exercise in the circumstances
secure modification of the arrange
ent giving control of the peninsula
Japan.