The Washington herald., 1920-06-16
TAFT SAYS LODGE
RESERVATIONS ARE
SURE OF ADOPTION
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
Mr.. Lodge appeared and threw his
weight against so specific an ap-
proval of his own course by threat
ening to go on the floor of the
convention t. oppose it.
Good judges were of opinion that
the more direct course would have
been adopted by a majority of the
committee had not Mr.. Mills. while
supporting Mr.. Crane. drawn from
his pocket the draft of a plank pre-
pared by Mr.. Root which he said
accomplished the same purpose,
Their opponents found therein no ex-
press approval ot the league and
reservations In terms and accepted
it Mr.. Root Is in favor Of the
league with the Ledge reservations
and such improvement in the ju-
dicial features of the league as Is
indicated in the plank adopted. He
thus drafted a plank which, with
out promising in terms entry by
the United States into the league
with the Lodge reservations. COM
mits the party to every effort to
secure such g. result.
Original League Airing.
Let US go back in the history of
the league. When Mr.. Wilson
brought 1t home first Mr.. Root wrote
a letter to Mr.. Hays at the request
of the latter in which he commented
on the league and suggested GER
tain amendments. He then approved
Article Ten, but thought 1t should
apply only for five years when
there should be revision of
the boundaries therein guaranteed
against forcible invasion. -77
He recommended a court to pass
on justiciable questions as con-
tanned in the program of the league
to enforce peace and defined what
should be regarded justiciable ques-
tions. He criticized the omission In
the league of a more satisfactory
declaration in favor of the develop
ment of the principles of interna-
tional law and justice by judicial
decision.
He approved, however, with en-
phasis, the machinery provided in
the league, covenant for reaching a
recommendation for settlement of
non-justiciable controversies. Mr..
Roots definition of justiciable con-
troversies was incorporated in the
amended league covenant but only
in an advisory way and not as a
basis for the fixed jurisdiction of an
arbitral court.
In a subsequent letter, after the
treaty was formally submitted, Mr..
Root changed his attitude as to
Article Ten and favored a reserva-
tion saving the United States from
any binding obligation under II, and
that is what the Lodge reservation
effects.
The present league covenant con-
tains a provision directing the coun-
Gil of the league to prepare a plan
for the establishment of a court for
the league. There is every reason
to believe that the English plan for
Q league contained a provision for
an international court with fixed
Jurisdiction to pass on justiciable
questions, and that the adoption Of
this feature was prevented by Mr..
Wilson.
Mr.. Root League Helper.
After the league was organized
without the membership of the
United States Mr.. Wilson exercised
no influence and thus the league was
able to select Mr.. Root as a member
Of q strong committee Of interna-
tional jurists to recommend a plan
for a 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 the resolutions of the Republic
an platform are 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 the Repub-
lican President and a representative
Senate without ratifying the league
with substantially the Lodge reser-
vations.
With a Republican victory there
IL every reason to anticipate that
enough of the Democratic Senators
who hold out because Mr.. Wilson in
sisted (and only seven more Demo-
Gratis than those already committed
are needed) will approve the league
with such reservations
The first paragraph of the resolu-
tion on the league reads as follows:
The Republican party stands for
agreement among the nations to
pfcScENc Iuc peace OF the world. We
believe that such an international
association must be based upon in
ternational Justice and must provide
methods which shall maintain the
rule Of public right by the develop
ment of law and the decision of i'm
partial courts and which shall Sc
cure instant and general interna-
tional conference whenever peace
shall be threatened.i SO that the ma
tions pledged to do and insist upon
what Is just and fair. may exercise
their influence and power for the
prevention of war"
Describes Lodge Reservations.
This describes exactly what the
league OF nations with the Lodge
reservations does, except as the
judicial features of the league
needs Improvement. 1t declares for
an agreement among nations to pre-
serve the peace of the world. HowY
First by provision for judicial set