The Washington herald., 1920-10-11
HANDS0FF ERIN
POLICY OF TAFT
Ex-President Declares Cox
Would Make League
Menace to Peace.
BY WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT.


Copyright, 1890. by Public Ledger co..
Mr'~C says he proposes, after
the United States shall have en-
tered the league of nations under
his Presidency, to move a resolution
In the league in favor Of giving Ire
land independence, in accord with
the principle of self-determination.
This statement is made to propi-
tiate the Sim Fein vote. Senator
harding has pointed out that there
Is no provision in the league of ma
tions under which II would be pos
sible for Mr.. Cox, as President, to
move such a resolution; and he is
quite right.
But in this matter, as in all mat
ters concerning the league OF ma
tions, Mr.. Cox follows Mr.. Wilson
implicitly.
Explains Covenant.
Mr.. Wilson has intimated before,
and now says, that such u case as
that of Ireland might be brought,
upon the application of Ireland. be-
fore the league OF nations under ar
ticle IL OF the covenant.
Article IL is as follows:
ANY war or threat OF war,
whether Immediately affecting any
of the members OF the league or not.
is hereby declared a matter OF con-
Germ to the whole league, and the
league shall take any action that
may be deemed wise and effectual
to safeguard the peace of nations
In case any such emergency should
arise the secretary general shall on
the request of any member of the
league forwith summon a meeting
OF the council.
1T is also declared to be the
friendly right Of each member OF the
league to bring to the attention OF
the assembly or OF the council any
circumstances whatever affecting
international relations which threat
en- to distrub international peace
or the good understanding between
nations upon which peace depends"
Recalls De Valera stand.
Mr.. Wilson says that this article
sets up forum to which all claims
of self.determination which are
| likely to disturb the peace of the
world, or the good understanding G
| between nations upon which the
peace of the world depends, can be
presented. II an internal disturb
ance in one nation does affect an
other nation in such a way that the
latter may complain of it and make
| 1t Casus belli then it would come
within article eleven; but no other
nation today has any cause to inter
Vene with Great Britain in favor OF
Ireland, or to make Irelands con.
| dition a ground for dispute or wal
with Great Britain. Distressing as
the situation is in Ireland. no other
| nation, under any rule of interna
| tional law, is prejudiced by it. and
no nation proposes to intervene
Even Mr.. De Valera disclaims any
desire to involve the United State,
in a war with Great Britain.
The suggestion that a rebellion
within the territory OF a recognized
| government against its authority
! gives the league Jurisdiction solely
| because the object Is self determin.
alton, finds no support in any Ian.
! guage of the covenant
dangerous to Peace.
Every member of the league will
certainly and properly object, OF
| jurisdictional grounds. to the hear,
| ing by the league of a claim .ol
self-determination by part of its
! subjects or citizens against that
! member. Certainly Great Britain
and France and Italy had no such
conception OF the meaning of Ar.
| ticle II, when they consented to il
/ as that which Mr.. Wilson and Mr.
! Cox give it. Under it, Algiers and
! Tunis. and French China. might eacf
apply to be released from the gov,
| ernment of France. Under it, Trip.
| oil and the Red Sea colonies Of
Italy might make similar appIica
ton. Under it. not only Ireland
but India and all the crown colo.
nies Of Great Britain. might present
their claims for self-determinst tior
| to the league. The Philippines. oil
| the negroes of South Carolina, oil
! of anv other State where they ar,
in the majority, might apply to tht
| league to be made an independent
| State. and have a hearing before
the council or assembly of thC
| league. Such an absurd construc>
tion would furnish the strongest
! kind of an argument against the
| league as busybody meddline
agency encouraging rebellions II