The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-09-11
Republican Nominee Fires
Broadside at Wilson
and His Policies.

MdA aOu, O.s 0VP~ -NSuASO>S.
Press) )-Suggestion that Americat
has been duped by shocking dis !
crepancies" in the French and Eng /
iish text of articles in the Versailles /
treaty. purporting to safeguard the
Monroe doctrine, was made today /
by Warren G. Harding. These dis /.
crepancies might readily involve US
in conflict, he said. He demanded
that those advocating acceptance of !
the league covenant bring forth an
explanation.
This new angle on the treaty IL
sue was sprung in q double bar-i
relied broadside ON the Wilson pol
icies made by Harding today, speak
ing to delegations Of business men
from Chicago, Michigan and Indi-
ana,
Lashes SMeddlmg."
The other half Of Harding'sl
speech unsparingly lashed the "in-i
effective meddling" policy of the
Democratic administration toward
business. Eight years Of Demo-
cratic administration have In
creased rather than reduced tnef-
ficiency and we have become the
ineffective prodigals Of the world"
he said. He advocated rebuilding
of our economic life, so that our
prosperity shall not be the pros |
perity OF pIofiteers nor OF special
privilege"
Harding quoted from the French
text Of Article Twenty-one OF the !
league covenant, arguing that 1t 10
"a complete reversal of the Eng
lish text both Of which are official
and bear the signature Of the An
erican plenipotentiaries.
Texts Differ, He Says.
This difference, he said, might
very readily involve US in unhappy
conflict" The English text says
nothing in the covenant shall be
deemed to affect the validity OF un-
derstandings like the Monroe doc
itrine. The French text, as Hard
ing translated 1t, literally says that
understandings like the Monroe
doctrine might be considered as
compatible with any OF the pro-
visions of the covenant.
Comparing the two versions OF
this solemn covenant. no one can
fail to perceive that one text is the
complete reversal of the other, ne
said.
! Subordinates Doctrfnel
| 1.-THE intimation in English is
that the league covenant must ne
made to coincide with the Monroe
doctrine, but the literal effect Of
the clause as originally drawn IN
the French, is the subordination OF
the Monroe Doctrine to such q DC
gree as virtually to involve its com
,plete abandonment.
"One cannot help but wonder
whether the whole thing was Q traI
to destroy the good American doc
ltrine Of Monroe, to which this re
J public has been committed fol
more than a century. 1t is impoe
sible to believe that the Enslisl
version was intended to be an ex
, act rendering of the French; N
one will consent to believe 1t wa
; meant to be identical in purpose.
Made Intentionally, Charge.
: "One wishes to be both charita
BILE and considerate, but it is har'
E to believe this very marked dis
; crepancy was perpetrated withou
intention. Clearly, America Is be
: ing deceived or the representative
e of America have sought to deceiv
b the nations with whom We propos
e to covenant our peaceful assocaa
o tons"
4 In event of dispute OF Europea'
. powers would inevitably accept u
e French version. that being the ON
d cial language OF European diplo
macy, Harding said.
k America would have to acquiese
o in the demolition of her cherishe
). doctrine or 60 to war" he added.
= Harding explained he did not b
l. lieve the president would know
: ingly be . party to deception
+ his own country and he would NJ
accuse foreign representatives
>. trying to dupe America, but thel
., is q misunderstanding which.
+ any business contract, would ha'
10 to be clarified before any prudel
, business man would sign It.
Hits Business Policy.
y Turning to relations OF the 80
= ernment toward business, Hardil
. declared the pulling and haulil
of business and application
fCOnfinuoA IN last pagel