SOURCES OF LEAGUE COVENANT

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 89, 12 October 1920, Page 7

SOURCES OF LEAGUE COVENANT

REPUBLICANS' CHANGE OF

POSITION

(UNITED PSESB ASSOCIATION. —COPTRIGBT.) . (AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) NEW YORK, 11th October.

At Springfield, Massachusetts, Governor Cox issued a. statement, pointing out ■that President Wilson asked for and received advice from important, members of the Republican Party concerning the form and content of the League of Nations Covenant, while the President carried on the negotiations in Paris. Mr. Taft was one of the men whose views were asked, and literally followed. .Mr. Tumulty cabled "Mr. Taft's views to President Wilson. Mr. Taft, after the first draft of the Covenant was published, suggested four amendments, and they were adopted. Mr. Taft even suggested the line of argument President Wilson should pursue in America in advocating the adoption of the League. Mr. Hughes offered seven amendments, and five were adopted; Mr. Root offered six amendments, , and five were adopted. Mr. Taft's amendments included a provision concerning the Monroe Doctrine, and that domestic questions, such as Oriental immigration, should be taken out of the hands of the League. Mr. Oox made the charge that the sudden change in the position" of these Republicans, who now advootted Senator Harding's election^ despite the fact that they knew he disired_ to destrow the League, was due exclusively to a political conspiracy. Mr. Cox added: "Senator Lodge's opposition to the League, which developed immediately after the first draft of the Covenant was published, was simply for partisan purposes." He concluded : "There is no question that the real opposition to the League, which has simmered down to an attack on Article Ten, is inspired by opposition to the proud record of the Democratic demonstration."