The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-11
IA Amendments by Ex-
President, Root and
Hughes Adopted.
NO IDEAS IGNORED
Opening of White House
Files Seen as Move to
Split G. O. P.
BID FOR THE TAFT WING
Covenant Pictured as a Com
posite Of the Best Thought
in the World.
BID FOR THE TAFT WING

By staff Correspondent Of THE HERALD
! SPRINGFIELD H., Oct. 10.-Gov. Cox
made public tonight a series of cable
messages which passed between Presi-
dent Wilson and William H. Taft dur
/ ing the negotiation of the Treaty of
| Versailles. They came into his pos
session, Of course. from Mr.. Wilson's
private files In the White House.
! These communications show that
| Mr.. Taft made frequent suggestions
/ for changes and notifications Of the
covenant of the League OF Nations. to-
gether with advice as to how Repuh-
lican opposition might be overcome.
They covered a period from March le
to June 2S, 1919, and were transmitted
| for Mr.. Taft to Mr.. Wilson In Paris
through Secretary Tumulty. at times
| in cipher.
Gov Cox had q twofold purpose In
/ making public the documents at this
stage OF the campaign--first- In an ef-
fort to prove that the League OF Ma
tions covenant was not one man Anair
and that Mr.. Wilson welcomed sugges-
tions, and. second. in a further attempt
10 drive q wedge into the Republican
ranks between those who favor the
League of Nations and those who do not.
Except for the handing out OF these
| texts which came in mimeographed form
from the White House. Gov Cox passed
day OF rest in Springfield. where to-
morrow he wiz resume his stumpinE
campaign.
Little New Information.
The texts Of the messages which
passed between Mr.. Wilson and Mr..
Taft naturally are interesting. because
they show exactly what took place. but
their publication conveys little inforrna-
tion already unknown. II was a matter
Of common knowledge. widely printed
at the time. that Mr. Taft had made
suggestions about changes In the cove
nant; Mr.. Taft himself for a series Of
newspapers wrote his views on the
League of Nations. discussing its various
features at great length. For the last
month or more Gov Cox, in almost
every one of his campaign speeches has
been calling attention TO suggestions
that came not only from Mr.. Taft but
from Charles T.. Hughes and Elihu Root
The White House memorandum, con-
tanning some of the cables exchanged by
President Wilson and Mr.. Taft, stated
that In every instance the President
followed Mr. Taft's suggestion, and Gov.
Cox's statement declared that every
, suggestion OF Mr.. Taft was followed lit
orally" The correspondence Indicated
that Mr.. Taft's suggestions dealt prin-
cipally with protecting the Monroe Doc
trine, and dealing with American domes-
tic questions, withdrawal from the
league. unanimous league decisions and
, disarmament. The correspondence made
! public contained two cahlegrams from
the President 20 Mr. Taft and several
. from Mr.. Taft TO the Executive. includ-
ing one IN which "A. Lawrence Lowell.
former president OF Harvard University,
joined.
The Wilson Taft messages began with
that OF n cablegram sent on March IS.
1919 to Mr.. Wilson in Paris by Secre-
tary Tumulty, who said that Mr.. Taft
wanted TO know II suggestions would be
acceptable to the President. The reply
I given by President Wilson said he would
Appreciate Mr.. Taft's offer OF sugges-
/, tions and welcome them"
"The sooner they are sent the bet
ter" the Presidents reply added. You
need give yourself no uneaslness about
my yielding anything with regard 70 the
embodiment OF the proposed convention
r IN the treaty
Text of Taft Cable.
ON March IS Mr.. Taft cabled:
( il you bring back the treaty with
the League of Nations In Il make
more specific reservation OF tho Mon
roe Doctrine. fix a term for dura-
ton OF the league and the limit of
armament. require expressly unanfm-
ity Of action In executive council
and body OF delegates and add 20
Article XIV. a provision that where
the executive council OF tns oody OF
delegates finds the difference TO grow
out OF an exclusively domestic policy
u shall recommend no settlement,
the ground viii be completely cut
from under tho opponents OF the
League Of Nations.
ono Of Mr.. Taft's messages said:
The Republican Senators are try
ing to stir up anxiety among Re
. rublicans lest this be a limitation
upon our tariff IL would help much
20 meet and remove objections and
ont the ground under Senatorial Oh
struction.
Regarding the Monroe Doctrine, Mr..
Taft was quoted as foilows
My impression ls that n the one
! article already sent on the Monros
Doctrine be inserted IN the treaty
sufficient Republicans who signed ths
round robin would probably retreat
from their position and vote for ratl-
fication so that II would carry. II
the other suggestions we're adopted
feel confident that all but few
who oppose any league at all would
be driven 20 accept them and 20
stand for the league.
Another message by Mr.. Taft on
March 2s. 1919. upon The Same subject
said
Venture 90 suggest 20 President
that failure 20 reserve Monroe Doc
trine more specifically IN face of cp-
position In conference viii give great
weight TO objection that league az
first reported endangers doctrina u
will seriously embarrass advocates 81
league: II will certainly lead "a. Sem
ate amendments embodying doctrine
and other provisions In form ls~s
likely 70 secure subsequent acautss