New-York tribune., 1920-07-30
William Howard Taft
Discusses
Hardingg's League Attitude

ators Harding and Lodge do the
same thing? Necessarily because they
thought not only that the reservations
completely safeguarded America and
removed the objections they had to
the league, but also that our entry
into the league with such reservations
was good thing for the world and
the United States and was needed to
meet our just responsibility as the
leader in the family of nations
Harding's Proposition
And now what does Senator Harding
propose to do to meet the obligations
of the United States he recognizes both
in his Senate votes and in his accept
ance address? With the exception of
the passage of the joint resolution de-
claring peace with Germany which Mr..
Wilson vetoed, Mr.. Harding gives no
definite program of action as to the
league after March d next. He says:
With a Senate advising as the Con-
stitution contemplates, | would hope
fully approach the nations of Europe
and of the earth, proposing that un-
derstanding which makes us will
ing participant in the consecrat ton
of nations to a new relationship to
commit the moral forces of the
and international Justice, still leaving
America free, independent and self
reliant, but offering friendship for
all the world. If men call for more
SPECIFIC details, ! remnd them that
moral committals are broad and all
inclusive, and we are contemplating
peoples in the concord of humanity's
advancement From our own view
point the program is specifically
American, and we mean to be Amer
lean first
with Difference this is not definite
program as to the character Of the as
soclatlon which he would propose to
form. Indeed, there is nothing here
said that will prevent him from adopt
ing the League of Nations with the
Lodge reservations should the other
nations decline to make a new asso-
ciatlon vi course. we can only con-
lecture how the other nations would
meet proposal of the kind suggested
by Mr.. Harding. 1t would have to be
given definite form Mere expression
or good VIII and announcement of
moral reasons for making and keeping
peace would not suffice. One cannot
make omelets without breaking eggs
1t makes no difference whether you
call 1T an association or league. One
cannot create effective associations
without obligations of the nations as
soclated to do something. We can't
/ make arrangements to reduce arma-
, ments without covenants or agree
mcnts to do so. We can't settle causes
in court of justice or submit non
justiciablc differences to a conference
| so as to prevent war without binding
agreements to 90 so. When the reQulrec
form is given to all the objects which
Mr.. Harding and Mr.. Lodge have indi-
Gated as necessary and proper, then
the other nations are quite likely to
say:
But here is the league to which we
are willing to admit you with all the
reservations you have insisted on. 1t
accomplishes all the objects you pro-
pose. It has been functoning for more
than year and has proven satisfac-
/ tory. We must decline to give up what
has served us we'll"
Of course, if meantime the league
has failed the case would be different.
/ But if all the nations but Germany,
Turkey and Austria have found it to
function properly the United States
will encounter difficulty in securing a
complete abandonment Of that league
brought about with so much effort, for
some other plan.
Joint Declaration of Peace
The joint resolution declaring peace
would not effect 3 peace with Germany
unless Germany passed a similar reso-
luton and consented to the conditions
therein recitod. There is grave doubt
whether Germany would do this with
the conditions of the resolution which
did pass Congress. If it is nero Joint
| declaration Of peace. then it must be
supplemented by treaty. Indeed, this
would be the case in anv event. for
peace by resolution il most unsatsfac-
tory IN settling the future relations of
/ the two countries after q war involving g.
so many complications. This made
quacV was recognized in the resolution
as introduced in the last session of
Congress, for the President was re-
/ quested IN 1t to negotiate separate
treaty with Germany in order to sup
plement the deficiencies of the declara-
ton even with conditions. A separate
peace treaty with Germany cannot be
made save by p two-thirds vote of the
Senate, which will be blocked bv suf-
flclent minority of Democratic SEN
ators, Judging by their previous vote
on the resolution and the emphatic and
specific declarations Of the Democratic
! p'Ntorm: A similar difficulty will face
h. Harding in any program departing
from the league with the Lodge rcser~
Natlons and invoking q new treaty and
the approval of two-thrds of the
Senate.
The Republican friends Of the league.
therefore, may still hope that MR.
Harding and his administration will find
that the best and easiest solution of
the problem, as it shall present itself
after March 4, will be to put the treaty
and league through with the reservn-
tions. There is nothing in the ac-
ceptancc and notification speeches to
foreclosc the possibility of such a re-
suit when Mr.. Harding enters Office
and faces the responsibility Of doing
something effective in the matter and
wishes to avoid such deadlock as Mr..
wilson insisted on forcing
Mr. Harding's treatment of the labor
question. the railroad question, the mat
ter of the high cost OF living and the
needs of the farmers is admirable. It
is clear. candid and full of common
sense. He emphasizes the interest of
the public in industrial peace and its
rights therein. He makes no demagogic
promises. He tells the trutil about the
necessary, limitations upon what gov
crnment legislation can do.