The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1920-06-22
HARDING AND THE LEAGUE.

covenant of the League Of Nations with the Lodge reser
vations It takes lot Of argument to support this view
and although we would like very much to be convinced
we must confess that it leaves lingering doubt We
are unable to accept Mr. Tafs conclusion in its entirety
but there are points Of weight in his discussion The
fact that the treaty plank drawn by Mr. Root who
favors the league, who wrote the platform Of the New
York State Republican Convention which called for rati-
fcation with the Lodge reservations and who Is in
Europe to aid in the creation Of international court
as part of the machinery of the league is an indication
at least that the intent of the plank IS not unfriendy
20 the existing League Of Nations. Mr.. Taft believes
that the platform declaration that 1--WE pledge the COM
inc Republican administration to such agreement with
the other nations of the world shall meet the full duties
4 America to civilization and humanity in accordance
With American ideals and without surrendering che right
If the American people exercise its judgment and its
power in favor Of justice and peace means acceptance
i the covenant with the reservations indicated Maybe
does and we hope it does. If it does net mean that
what does it mean? There is, in reality, nc alternative
way of fulfilling this pledge and we have heretofore
shown that granted the safeguards demanded cannot
remain out of the league without disadvantage and nus
tce to ourselves.
Mr. Taft does not quite convince that the platform
omms the party ratification Of the treaty with the
odge reservations but the logic Of circumstances nd-
ates that such will be the party course. We sald IN
discussing this matter when the platform was first an
aounced that it left the party position to be declared by
candidate 1t is pertinent therefore to inquire what is
senator Hardings attitude in relation to the treaty tie
las stated himself in number of utterances Wnen
he question Of ratification with the reservations adopted
" the majority was up for decision last November, Sen
/ tor Harding said;
an the Senate there four distinct schools OF
| thought in dealing with this treaty; One is the
unconditional ratification school, those VINO either
through their own conscientious convictions or the
| lash Of the executive-choose as you wil-want
this treaty ratified without single modlhcation or
| reservation That is Group No. l. In direct oppo-
sition Is the so-caled rreconcilable group those
who are unalteraby opposed to any ratification
That is Group g. The third is the group to which
| | choose to belong if may, who are agreed to
bring about the ratification of this treaty If they
are convinced that reservations have been adopted
which are sufficient to safeguard the interests OF
the United States Of America There still remains
| another proup or rather group within group,
nonusrlv known as mild reservatoasts,- those who
are anxious to safeguard the interests OF TINS re-
public but at the same time desire to make the res
ervations as little offensive possible to those VINO
assumed to negotiate the treaty in contempt Of the
| Senate
4 eve nave had the four groups to dial with, and IN
tn progress of the debate and after much discussion
we have finally to an understanding on thls
side alone because on the other side there were
those who took the position that there could be no
reservations at all, and have accommodated our al
ferences to the extent that the majority has agreed
upon a program of reservations"
IN this statement Senator Harding identified himsel
with the group who have agreed to bring about ratit
alton" with reservations sufficient to safeguard tn
interests of the United Staes and he voted That
had not changed his position when the question of rat
, caton with the reservations again came to vote'
shown by the Record When Senator Hardlng's nam
was called Senator Curtis said g" have been requisite
o announce that the junior Senator from Ohio IN
Harding) in order to facilitate vote on this question
+ greed to pair with the senior Senator from fehnsy
. yania (Mr Penrose), who is absent on account OF Il
ness If at liberty vote, the Senator from Ono wou
= ote YEA and the Senator from Pennsylvania would vo
nav" Senator Harding is thus recorded second tin
IS in favor of ratification with the Lodge reservation
N 80 late as May IA he said in speech at Boston,
ic 'There would not be any trouble about the League
Of Nations if it were not for the personal dictation
n of the President--'my will or none.' ! think tne
D. sentiment of America is largely in favor OF con-
siderable cooperation and participation on the part
Of the United States in q International rela-
Re tionship which shall tend to promote and preserve
>, +ha reaco of the world would not have America
ty hold aloof"
Ill This attitude the part Of the republican cahoida
be taken together with he facts and that two-thrds
1.-THE republican senators voted for ratification with Il