Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1920-08-26
Claim That America Will Poll
IL Votes in League Causes
Big Sensation Among Pam
Americans at Capital.
PROPOSE TO ASK FOR
OFFICIAL DISAV0WAL,
Utterancef Are Regarded as
. Semi official Statement
From White House-GeneraI
Tone Of Speech Offensive.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.

Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, Aug. 25.-The claim
Of Franklin d. Roosevelt, demo-
cratic vice presidential candidate, in
3 his Butte (Mont.) speech that the
United States would have - votes
in the league OF nations as compared
to the six votes for England and her
dependencies, created real sensa-
ton in Pan-American diplomatic
circles here.
differences are being made by
South and Central American diplo-
mats that Roosevelt is insisting that
the United States will poll all the
votes of the western hemisphere
members of the league and to the
this violent protests are being made.
South American diplomats. who
do not understand American poll
tics. are taking the vice presidential
candidates utterances at their face
value, They do not make an allow
anee for the extravagant statements
of political campaign. According
ly. the South and Central American
diplomats are making an effort to
secure an official copy of the Butte
speech and when it is obtained the
matter will be taken up through Of
ficial channels with view to OBJ
tanning a disavowal of Mr.. Roose-
velt's claim that the United States
will swing the all-American vote in
the league of nations.
Regarded as Semi o fhcial.
More than ordinary weight is
being given to Mr.. Roosevelt's re-
cent speeches in Pan-Amerioan
circles. This is on account of his
recent retirement from the official
family and the fact that he partici-
pated in the conferences with Presi-
dent Wilson and Governor Cox at
which ali agreement was reached to
make the league of nations the para
mount issue Of the campaign. His
speech is therefore regarded at least
as scmi-oficial pronouncement
from the White House which the
Pan-Amerieans do not think they
can afford to ignore.
1t is insisted in some quarters that
the South and Central American
countries hastened to join the
league of nations because they
believed that it would restrict the
sphere of influence Of the United
States in the western hemisphere.
Some Of the most astute South
American diplomats were Of the
opinion that they could make COM
binations around the council board
of the league of nations which would
increase the influence of the south
ern countries in the affairs of the
western hemisphere and any prop
osition sucl, as is proposed by Mr..
Roosevelt under which the United
States would control the vote Of all
the nations of Central and South
America and thus strengthen this
country. will not go unchallcngcd.
General Tone Offensive.
Aside from Mr.. Roosevclt's claim
as to the domination of the United
States in the league of nations, the
general tone of his speeches are
proving offensive to Pan-American
diplomats. They do not take kindly
to his reported declaration that Il
know what am talking about. for
| wrote The constitution: of two OF
these ,la'ions."
Mr.. Roosevelt has made, grave
diplomatic mistake. if he has been
correctly quoted" said John. Barrett,
retiring director general of the Pam
American union. THE reference that
the United States will cast the votes
of South and Central American
countries in the league Of nations is
naturally resented by the members
of the Pan-American union. | have
already requests to verify the re-
ports which have been printed in
the papers of Mr.. Roosevelt's speech
at,Butte. One of the members OF the
pan-American union has asked for
an Interpretation of Mr.. Roosevelt's
uttcrances. OF course. there is not
the least grounds upon which Mr..
Roosevelt can base his assumption
that the United States will control
the votes of the South and Central
American countries in the league OF
nations.
I'm the interests of better feeling
toward the United States among the
members of the Pan-Arnerican union,
| hope that Mr.. Roosevelt has 6een
ndsquoted. We cannot afford to
have the United States placed in the
attitude OF claiming the ability to
swing the South and Central Amer
lean influence in the league of ma
tions."