Evening journal., 1919-06-27
G.0 P. NOT AGAINST
League COVENANT.
Merely Seeks to Make it
More Acceptable, Says
National Chairman
THINK AMENDMENTS
HIGHLY NECESSARY

HIGHLY NECESSARY
WASHINGTON. June 27.-The Repuli-
can party is not opposed to the league
OF nations, VIII Hayes, chairman OF
the Republican national committee. de
clared after a long visit 10 the capitol
Yesterday. where he conferred with Re
publican Senators in an effort TO unite
them on a definite program in regard 10
the league.
1T is important that the American
people should not get the idea the Re
publican party is opposing the league
OF nations" said Mr.. Hays. We are
doing nothing Of the sort. We are mere
IN seeking a basis for united and con
struciive action with respect to certain
amendments or reservation such as
those proposed by Mr.. Root which
would. in our Judgment. make the
league covenant more acceptable To the
Senate and 10 the country
The league should not be made a par
tsan issue. Mr. Hays declared. but he
reiterated his former declarations mat
the covenant should be amended before
It is finally ratified.
We opposed certain provisions or
the league covenant as 10 was originally
drawn" he continued, with the re-
suit that It was materially changed. ]
believe that further amendments to the
modified covenant are necessary some
Of the amendments suggested would
further strengthen the covenant and
further safeguard the interest Of the
American people. which is our sole
purpose in advocating any amendments
or reservations.
Il regard as extremely desirable the
ratification Of the treaty as quickly as
possible. so peace may be established
and war conditions replaced by those
OF peace.
1t is imperative that the country be
permitted to resume soon its normal IN
dustrial and commercial actiViJles.
Highly important domestic questions
are CRYING for solution. The RepuDll-
can Congress has already accomplished
much toward that end and the Mneri-
can people are relying upon the RepuD-
lican party TO successfully meet mose
questions
Mr.. HAYS went to the capitol at the
request OF Senator Lodge. Of Massachu-
setts leader Of the Republicans in the
Sonaie and other opponents OF the
league OF nations, who asked MN 10
use his influence to repair the breaking
Republican machine.
The league opponents In the senate
declared after his visit that Nr. hays
had greatly bolstered up the opposition
10 the covenant
~The opposition TO the league is much
stronger now" was the comment OF
senator Knox on the chairmans Visit
Mr. Havs first conferred with Sena-
TORS Lodge and Knox. the leaders OF
Inc Republican opposition, when he ar
rived al the CapilOl. At the conclusion
NJ the conference none OF the particl-
nanis in the conference would discuss
what transpired. He later talked win
most Of the other Republican Senator'S
including senators McNary, OF oregon :
Norris Of Nebraska and Colt, or Rh0de
Island who have been reported as waN-
ering in their opposition TO the league
senator McNary later announced ne
IL for the league as 10 stands and that
he will deliver a speech in favor OF 'he
covenant in the Senate within feW
days.
senator Norris. who had been count
ed upon bv the administration forces as
favoring the league. declared ne is uh-
alterablv opposed TO the entire treaty
and that he intends 20 vote against IT,
especially because Of the Shantung pro-
vision. senator Colt would not discuss
his talk with the national chairman
senator Watson. Of Indiana, who has
,een urging the Republicans to make 8
PARTISAN issue Of the league, after ne
1ad talked with Mr.. Hays, said:
81 quite agree with everything Mr.
Uavs has said I do not believe the
league should be made an issue by inc
Republican party. and agree win MN
that amendments are needed TO saie-
guard the interests Of the United
states"
Mr.. Hays said he expects to issue
formal statement within a few days. n
which he will outline the attitude ol
the Senate and Of the Republican party
management in regard to the league.
lie aid not talk with senator Borah
OF Idaho, who has declared repeatedly
he will organize a new political part!
10 flght the league II the Republican
party does not make opposition to thu
covenant a party matter. Senator
Borah recently declared he intended
writing Mr. Hays and asking the na
tional chairman whether he was sup
porting former President Taft or tn
league opponents in the Senate.