New-York tribune., 1920-10-20
Issue Is Whether Pact
Shall Be Modified TO
Meet U. S. Objections,
Former Senator Asserts
Scores Article X az
Alliance of Force
Tells Carnegie Hall Audi
ence Covenant Speaks
Power and Not Progress

Former Senator Elihu Root, in
an address before more than $500
persons in Carnegie Hall last night,
plead for the election of Senator
Harding to the Presidency Of the
United States as the only prac-
ticable means of insuring the estab-
lishment of an organization of ma
tons to prevent future wars.
Mr.. Root asserted that the cleo
ton of Senator Harding would not
imply the rejection of the present
covenant of the league, but only
those features of it which Mr. Root
characterized as Objectionable, un-
desirable and fraught with danger
and injustice.
Among the features included in the
latter category by Mr.. Root was Art
Gle x of the covenant, the efficacy OF
which to preserve the peace of the
world Mr.. Root assailed as being con
trary to the opinion of the best friends
of peace in this country and abroad
The adoption of the covenant of the
League of Nations as at present con-
stituted and as urged by Governor
Cox, Mr.. Root said, would obligate the
United States to 20 to war in the
event of an attack upon any member
of the League of Nations. such as
the invasion of Poland by the Rus
Nd tha invasion ~
Ukrainia by the Poles"
Says Wilson Blocked Treaty
at is this article. above all others"
said MIR. Root, that Mr.. Cox will be
bound to insist upon if he is elected,
and it is this article above all others
which Mr.. Harding will be bound to
reject if he be elected
Mr.. Root blamed the failure of the
Senate to ratify the peace treaty upon
the stubbornness of President Wilson
in insisting that the treaty be ratified
without any changes, and averred that
the election of Governor Cox would
only serve to prolong the stalemate
and would lead to no constructive re
suits.
The issue is not between a League
of Nations or no League of Nations"
said Mr.. Root. The question Is
whether the agreement creating the
league shall be accepted absolutely un
changed or shall be modified to meet
the American objections. If Mr.. Cox
should be elected he would be bound
to continue the old struggle to force
the Senate TO accept the league cove
nant without change, which has kept
America from ratfying the peace
treaty for more than year. II Mr..
&c olo bo Will ko hound
to say to the foreign governments who
are already in the league: Here arc
certain objections TO certain provisions
in the league covenant which stand no
the way of Americas S entering che
league | would be glad TO have the
provisions of the agreement changed
so as to obviate these objections Then
would follow an ordinary common
sense negotiation as to the best way
to obviate the objections.
"There is nothing unusual or dis
tressing about negotiating the neces-
sary changes. If the other parties are
willing-as they seem to bet VIII b.
a simple matter. Several European ma
tions already have given notice of half
2 dozen changes in the covenant which
they propose to urge at a meeting of
the assembly of the league next month
The only reason why the changes nee
esSdfy TO meet AiheflcdH ooJSCIiois
have not already been considered is
that Mr. Wilson simply would not ne
gotiate for them"
Supporting the contention of Senator
Spencer that President Wilson prom
ised American military and naval aid
to Rumania and Serbia in the event of
the invasion of their territory, Mr..
Root read from the official version Of
the Presidents remarks on the occa-
sion in question, and that given out re-
Gently at the White House, and said:
Guaranty of Sovereignty
Upon both of these reports it is
perfectly plain that the consideration
upon which Rumanla and Serbia were
urged TO consent to a limitation Of
their sovereignty was a guaranty OF
that sovereignty by the United States,
with the justified understanding that
the guaranty Of need be- would be
made good by sending armies and fleets
across the sea. That guaranty was con-
tanned in Article X, and that Is what
Article x means"
~ think il most Objectionable" said
the former Senator and Secretary of
State, that the American people shall
enter into a solemn and positive agree
ment to maintain by force OF arms for
all time the dispositions of territory
(the big four made in the year 1919.
That is part OF what Article x under
takes TO do. 1t is practical certainty
that if the American government
enters into the obligations of Article
x the time will presently come when
the United States Will be called upon
to make good its guarantees by force.
and when the people OF the United
States will be unwilling 70 make the
eacriffra of lffo and m
OF: war in distant land fer a cause Of
which they know little and for which
they care less. The presence OF such
stipulation in the leagne covenant IS
an element of structural weakness"
The main objection TO the covenant
as at present constituted is that it -
pased upon force, Mr.. Roo said. and
one of the principal changes for which
the United States should contend, he
maintained, is that it be based upon
the exercise Of moral power as ex-
nre sad in tpS