Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-07-24
Former President Sug-
gests Six Topics for Ex-
planatory Annotations
in Treaty.
Writes Chairman Hays
AS Means Of Reaching
Group Opposed to Cow
enant as 1t Reads.

Washington, July 23.-fBy The AS
sociated Press.)-A plan for interpret
ations'' in senate acceptance of the
league of nations has been suggested by
former President Taft in letters to Re-
publican National Chairman Hays, in the
hope of uniting on a middle ground
enough democratic and republican SEN
ators to defeat any radical amendment
of the covenant and in the end obtain its
ratification.
The letters suggest six "interpreta-
tions." covering the right of withdrawal
limiting the representation of domlnlons
and colonies. asserting the perogatlve OF
congress to declare war under article
ten, confirming control over domestic is
sues relating to the Monroe doctrine,
and reserving the right to terminate OBJ
legations under article ten at the end Of
ten years.
Mr.. Taft wrote that these interpreta-
tions would not weaken the league cove
nant. but would. he believed, assure rat
ification.
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 deti-
mite program OF interpretative reserya-
tions which they declare they have reason
to believe will be accepted by the ad-
ministration.
The administration leaders, however.
unwilling to concede that any reserva-
tions will be necessary, still insist they
will have the votes when the time comes
to ratify the covenant as it IS
Expect Wilson's o. X.
So confident are the league repnb
licans of the success of their plan that
some of them believe President Wilson
will publicly accept it TO smooth the way
to acceptance of the league. Some repub-
lican senators who have seen the presl-
dent in the last few days have come
away from the White House with the
impression that Mr.. Wilson might not
be adverse to, such lnferpreta'ions as
would leave the league fabric unlm-
paired They say, however, that this lm-
preston is not based on any direct state-
ment by the president
Mr.. Taft's suggestions which has
created a sensation in the senate. pc
cause of his we'll known advocacy Of rat1-
fication, was embodied in two letters to
Will Fl. Hays. the republican national
chairman, copies Of which reached some
republican senators today. They touch
ed upon many features of the treaty con-
troyersy and emphasized the formet pre-
sidents belief that only by acceptance or
ratified.
The six different interpretative pro-
posals Mr.. Taft says he is convinced will
meet the objections of large group of
republicans who favor the league. He
counts As democratic senator's as sup
porting the president in the treaty fight
and says that should three republicans be
committed to vote against material
amendment, no such proposals could re-
ceive a senate majority.
Wanted Name Withheld.
The former president suggested to Mr..
Hays that his name be withheld for the
present from connection with the inter-
probation plan, since it might antagonize
some senators of his party.
Chairman Lodge. of the foreign rela-
tions committee, who is named in that
connection, declined. today, to make any
comment on the Taft letter.
Mr. Taft also has written to some Of
the republican senators under the lead
ership of Senator McCumber, North Da-
kota, and Senator McNary, Oregon. who
have been interested in formulating a
middle course for solution of the senate
situation. 1t is understood that Sena-
tors Kellogg, Minnesota: Colt, Rhode Is
land. and Spencer. Missouri. also have
been consulted in the interests of such
PLAN