New-York tribune., 1920-06-16
William Howard Taft
discusses
Republicans and League

garded as justicable questions. He
a more salts nctory declaration in
favor of the development of the prin-
eiples Of international law and justice
by judicial decision. He approved
however, with emphasis the machinery
provided in the lcngue covenant for
reaching a recomm mmendation for settle
ment Of the justicable controversies.
Mr.. Roots definition OF justicisble con-
troversies was incorporated in tho
amended league covenant, but only in
an advisory way. and not as basis
court.
Change no Article X.
In a subsequent letter after the
treaty was formally submitted, Mr..
Root changed his attitude as to Article
x. and favored reservation saving
the United States from any binding
obligation under it, and that was tho
Lodge reservation effects.
The present league covenant contains
provision directing the council Of
the league to prepare plan for the
establishment of a court for the league.
There Is every reason to believe that
the English plan for league contained
provision for an international court
with fixed jurisdiction to pass on JUS
tlciable questions, and that the adop-
tlon Of this feature was prevented by
Mr.. Wilson. After the league was or
ganized without the mem bership of the
United States Mr. Wilson exercised no
influence, and thus the league was able
to select Mr. Root as member of q
strong committee of international jur-
lists to recommend a plan for = court
for the league. Mr.. Root has accepted
and is now at The Hague, where the
work is being done.
When these facts are considered and
resolutions of the Republican platform
arc interpreted in the light of them,
they leave no doubt that they not only
DO not declare against the league with
the Lodge reservations, but that their
pledge cannot be satisfied by a Re-
publican President and Republican
senate without ratifying the league
with SUBSTANTIALLY the Lodge rescrva-
tlons. With Republican victory there
is every reason to anticipate TINT
enough of the Democratic Senators
who held out because Mr.. Wilson In
sisted land only seven more Demo-
Gratis than those already committed are
needed) will approve The league with
such reservations.
Peace Agreement Favored
The first paragraph Of the rcsolu-
lions 1!, on the league reads as follows:
Ihe Republican party stands for
agreement among the nations to pre-
serve the peace Of the world. We be-
lleve that such an international asso-
ciatlon must be based upon interna-
tonal justice and must provide
methods which shall maintain the rule
OF public right by the development of
law and the decision of impartial
courts, and which shall secure instant
ana general internal ational conference
whenever peace shall be threatened,
50 that the nations pledged to do and
insist upon what is just and fair NAV
exercise their influence and power for
the prevention of war"
This describes exactly what the
league Of nations with the Lodge res
ervations does, except as the judicial
features OF the league need improve
menc. 1t declares for an agreement
Of the world. How? First, by pro-
vision for the judicial settlement of
disputes capable Of such settlement.
Second, by instant international
conference whenever peace is threat
ened, so that the nations pledged to
insist upon what is just and fair may
exercise their influence and power"
for the prevention Of war. This means
mises In justiciable controversies
by the league of nations, secured by
their pledged insistence and the use
of their influence and power. 1t was
Article XVI and the preceding articles
which were strongly approved by Sen
ator Root.
Reservation on Article x
The second paragraph introduces the
reservation of Article x as follows:
eve believe that all this can be
done without the compromise of ma
tional Independence, without depriv-
ing tho people Of the United States
in advance of the right to determine
for themselves what Is just and fair
whan the occasion arrives, and with
out involving them as participants and
not as peace makers in multitude of
quarrels tho merits Of which they are
unable to judge"
Article bound the United States
with the other members to uphold,
against forcible aggression, the terri
toral integrity and existing political
independence OF every member Of the
league with force Of arms if need be,
and without regard to the merits Of
the controversy. The majority (and
indeed the minority reservations Of
the Democrats) destroyed this positive
oDlGat0n ana le1t II TO Congress to
decide its course when the occasion
arose, and this is Just what the above
words provide.
The platform continues to animad-
vert on Article X as follows: "Thc
covenant signed by the President at
Paris signally failed to accomplish this
great purpose, and contains stipula-
tions not only intolerable for indepen-
don't people but certain to produce the
injustice, hostility and controversy