New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-17
Pro-League Men in
Republican Party
TO Follow Harding
Statement, Denying Dispute
Over Proposed Memorial
to Viviani, Explains Atti-
tude Toward Covenant
rro,r The rrieane's Washington Bar.ou

Fross The Trfbunes WdSttnG toN Burtdu
WASHINGTON, April 16.--In state
ment given out here tonight. the Pro-
League Republicans, whose head
quarters arc at 500 Fifth Avenue, New
York City, denied that there was q
controversy over the memorial which
they proposed to present to Rene
viviana. envoy extraordinary to the
limited States from France, on the sub
;ect of American participation in the
League of Nations. The statement ex-
plained that the plan of presenting the
memorial was abandoned because of
possible embarrassment. According to
the published reports of a week ago.
lsck of signatures to the memorial was
the reason it failed to appear.
These signing the statement of to-
day are the Rev. DR.. S. Parkes Car
man, Samuel Colcord and George r.
Van De Water, representing Republi-
cans of New York. Other signers are
William Allen White, of Kansas; Raw
LYMAN Wilbur and Lyman J. Gage, Of
California; Edwin Ware, of Missouri:
Arnold B. Hall. of Wisconsin,; M. l..
Burton, of Michigan; Charles F.
Thwing, OF Ohio; Charles H. Richards.
Of New Jersey, and S. Homer Wood
bridge and Francis f. Clark, of the
committee representing New England.
With the intention of getting the
statement of he pro-league Repub-
lean viewpoint before the public in
SOME other way, the organization sets
forth in long letter its attitude, which
is described AS zone of willingness to
follow President Harding either into
he existing league with safeguarding
reservations or into new association
Of nations that shall have the sanction
of the craftsmanship of the world and
give fair promise of the preservation
of peace
In taking this attitude the pro-
leaguers would have it understood, they
say. that they ''would favor new as
ISOLATION of nations upon it's merits
only, and not upon the ground that.
such was the mandate of the election,
which in their view was quite differ
ent."
The vote last November was deter
mined, continues the statement, by the
platform and record of the party and
public utterances of the candidate,' but
the platform left such room for doubt
that the voter might interpret it to his
own liking"
"What was the party record on the
question of world peace? 1t was this:
That the Republican Senate leaders had
twice made distinct and definite pro-
posal that we enter the League of Ma
tons with the Lodge reservations, and
gave the proposal the tremendous
emphasis of twice passing it by sub
stantal majorities in the Senate.
"lf that proposal had been accepted
the United States would now be
member of the League of Nations, with |
ample provisions for the preservation |
Of peace.
insofar as that issue Influenced
the voters and contributed to his land
slide majority, we may rightly claim
from President Harding, as fair
recognition of that vote, consideration
for the League of Nations, qualified by
tfNse reservations or such modifica-
ton of them as changed conditions
may require"
In concluding, the Pro-League Re-
publicans' statement declares:
we make no appeal for the League |
Of Nations, either with or without !
reservations; we would clear the atmo-
sphere of the fog of misrepresentat
or misinterpretation of the peoples |
mandate, and with that done trust to
the wisdom of American craftsmanship !
to work out right solution