New-York tribune., 1920-10-11
Wilson Adopted
Taft's Treaty
Ideas, Cox Says
Cable correspondence Be.
tween President and Ex-
President in 1919. During
Drafting, Is Made Public
Covenant Foes Assailed
,Jurist's Suggestions Dealt
Principally With Protect
ing the Monroe Doctrine

son and former President Taft in 1919
during drafting of the League of Ma
tions covenant at Paris, was made pub
lie in this city tonight by Governor
Cox, together with a statement by the
candidate criticizing severely Senator
Lodge. of Massachusetts,, and other
league opponents.
Mr.. Taft, the correspondence de-
tailed, sought and had cable communi-
cation with President Wilson, submit
ting numerous suggestions for changes
in the tentative league draft and ad
vising the President regarding its pres
entation to the Senate.
Governor Cox, who is scheduled to
make addresses here and at East St.
Louis. Ill. and St. Louis tomorrow.
said that he published the Taft-Wilson
correspondence White House memo
rsndum-because Of "the euuivocal
position eX-President Taft and other
friends Of the league now occupy in
the support of the candidate of the
league destructionists." The corre-
spondence; Governor Cox said, was
initiated by him (Mr. Taft) as a re-
suit Of his study of the draft agree
vleIt, anu NQOkCQ alt own
words when sincerity of mind and intel
Hgence were not beclouded by the parti-
san prejudice of q political campaign" :"
Says Taft's Ideas Were Followed
The White House memorandum, con-
tanning some Of the cable messages ex-
changed by President Wilson and Mr..
Taft, stated that in every instance"
the President followed Mr.. Taft's sug-
declared that "every suggestion of Mr..
TAFT was followed literally" The cor
responGence indicated that Mr.. Taft's
suggestions dealt principally with pro-
tecting the Monroe Doctrine and deal
ing with American domestic ques-
tons, withdrawal from the league,
unanimous league decisions and dis
armament. The correspondence made
public contained two cable messages
from the President to Mr.. Taft and
several from Mr.. Taft to the Execu-
tive, including one in which A. Law
renee Lowell, president of Harvard
University, Joined
The White House memorandum
quoted at length league amendments
10 show adoption of Mr.. Taft's sugges-
The final cable message from Mr..
Taft. sent to Secretary Tumulty and
forwarded to the President, as given
in public corresp spondence, was dated
June 2S. 1919. just before the Presi-
= dent returned to present the treaty to
the Senate. 1t read:
81 would like to send a return mes
sage, and that is that the President
argue tie league and its necessity,
the .impoSsbility to secure peace with
ont it, the dreadful unrest 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 resist Bolshevism, the
necessity for renewal OF ne~0tlatl"Ns
if an important amendment like strik
ing out Article X is made, the abb
surdity of a Congressional declaration
c, peace or one s4.e, and the giving up
q sii objects ON the war in such a peace
if Germany were to make a similar
declaration. hope sincerely he will
not attack the Republican Senators.
His appeal Will be much more inttuen-
tia if he pleads his cause and does not
attack the opposition"
Glad Tor Suggestions
On March l6, 1919. the correspond
ence showed, Secretary Tumulty sent
the President 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 obJec-
tions in the minds of conscientious
Americans which its language
does not justify, and whose fears could
be removed without any considerable
change of language"
The reply given by President Wilson
said he would "appreciate Mr.. Taft's
offer of suggestions and welcome them"
THE sooner they are sent the bet
ter the Presidents reply added You
need give yourself no uneasiness about
my yielding anything with regard. to
the embodiment of the proposed con-
vention in the treaty"
On March IS, the correspondence
showed, Mr.. Taft cabled & reservation
for the Monroe Doctrine, stating that
1t "alonc would probably carry the
treaty, but others would make it GER
tain Mr.. Taft's detailed suggestions
were
"f you bring back the treaty with
the League of Nations In 1T, make
more specific reservations of the Mon
roe Doctrine, FIX a term for duration
Of the league and the limit Of arma-
Ment REQUIRE expressly unanlmlty OF
action in executive council and body
Of delegates, and add to Article XIV
provision that where the executive
council of the body Of delegates ilnds
'ne difference TO grow out OF an eN-
clusively domestic policy it shall rec,
cmmend no settlement. The ground VIII
be completely clt rom under the op-
pcaents of tn league IN the Senate
A,..la ~o,-o~ Tariff
The latter, Mr. TAFT said, would cover
tariff, japanese immigration and SINH
lar domestic questions.
Submitting drafts of proposed amend =
ments and detailed 0rguments III thelr
DehSlf, one Of MI. Taft's messages
stated
The Repul'ican Senator'S are trying
70 stir up avriary among Republicans
lest this be a limitation upon our tarlH'
would help much to meet and re-
move objecticns and cut the ground
under Senatorial obstruction
regarding the Monroe Doctrines pro
lows:
My impression is that if the one ar
scle already sent on the Monroe Doc
VINE be inserted in the treaty sufficient
republicans who signed the round
sooln would probably retreat from their
position and vote for ratification 80
mat it would carry. If the other sug~
ttsssuons were adopted I feel confident
..essue at all would be driven to accept
mem and to stand for the league"
another message by MIR. Taft on