Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-11
TAFT CABLE ADVICE
FOR PRESIDENT AT
PARIS TOLD BY COX
Correspondence Between Mr..
Wilson and Ex-PreSi-
dent on Covenant.


SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,. October IL
Gable correspondence between Presl-
dent Wilson and former President
Taft in 1919, during drafting of the
league of nations covenant at Paris,
was made public here by Gov. Cox
of Ohio, democratic presidential can
didate, together with a statement by
the candidate criticising severely Sen
ator Lodge of Massachusetts ana
other league opponents.
Mr.. Taft, the correspondence detail
ed, sought and had cable communlca-
tion with President Wilson, submit
ting numerous suggestions for
changes in the tentative league draft
and advising the President regarding
it's presentation to the Senate.
Gov. Cox's statement. issued prior
to his departure, said that he pub
lished the Taft-Whson correspond
ence-a White House memorandum
eX-President Taft and other friends
of the league in their sup
port of the candidate of the league
destructionists" The correspondence,
Gov. Cox said, was initiated by him
(Mr. Taft as a result of his study of
the draft agreement" and quoted Mr.:
Taft's own words when sincerity of
clouded by the partisan prejudice OF
a political campaign"
Suggestions Followed, He Says.
The White House memorandum,
containing some of the cables eX-
changed by President Wilson and Mr..
Taft stated, that in every instance
the President followed Mr.. Tafts sug-
gestions, and Gov. Cox's statement de-
clared that every suggestion of Mr..
fx1 h
correspondence indicated that Mr..
Taft's suggestions dealt principally
with protecting the Monroe doctrine,
and dealing with American domestic
questions, withdraw al from the league,
unanimous league decisions and dis
armament. The correspondence made
public, contained two cablegrams from
the President to Mr.. Taft and several
from Mr.. Taft to the executive, includ-
ing one in which Mr. Lawrence
Lowell. president of Harvard Uni
versity, joined.
The White House memorandum
quoted at length league amendments
- show adoption of Mr.. Taft's sug-
gestions.
Final Cablegrnm.
The final cablegram from Mr.. Taft.
sent to Secretary Tumulty and for
warded to the President, as given in
published correspondence, was dated
June %, 1919. just before the Presi-
dent returned to present the treaty
to the Senate. 1t read:
Il would like to send a return mes
sage, and that is that the President
argue to the league and it's neceS-
sity; the impossibility - secure
peace without it. the dreadful I'M
rest in Europe, the pressure of our
allies to ratify and secure peace at
once, the need of the league with the
United States to stabilize and to re-
sist bolshevism, the necessity for re-
amendment, like striking out article
X. is made, the absurdity of a con-
gressional declaration of peace on one
side. the giving up of all objects of
the war in such peace If Germany
were to make a similar declaration.
hope sincerely he will not attack
the republican senators. His appeal
will be much more influential if he
pleads his cause and does not attack
the opposition"
ON March 16, 1919. the correspond
ence showed. Secretary Tumulty sent
the President a message stating that
Mr.. Taft desired to cable the Presi-
dent direct. with suggestions not look
ing to change "of the structure of the
league, the plan of action or it's real
character. but simply removing OBJ
jections in minds Of conscientious
Americans which it's language
does not justify and whose fears
could be removed without any con-
siderable change of language"
President Appreciated Offer.
The reply given by President Will