| Show TAFTS TAFT'S SPEECH I C A league of rations covenant Is indispensable Indispensable Indis- Indis to the treaty ot of peace If the Is to accomplish the declared purpose purpose pur- pur war of this nation and the world former former for for- pose President William Howard Taft told mer the audience An adherence to the Washington policy o of avoiding foreIgn alliances could not be applied to the present International status Mr Taft I declared because the of the United States are InevitablY Involved In Inthe inthe the preservation ot of European peace For Forthe Forthe the United States to withdraw from the project l he asserted would make the the league of nations merely a return to the system of allIances and the balance of with a a speedy recurrence ot of war power in which this country would certaInly be Involved as it was In the present struggle Referring to criticism of the league In the senate the former president plan stated his belief that It was the duty ot of the president as the prime mover In the nations nation's treaty making power to report the eventual draft of the treaty with the former central powers wIth the league teague covenant as a part of the treaty Itself If in his judgment and that of the peace war an would agreement formally t terminating the war would be Incomplete without it REJECTION REGARDED UNLIKELY president made such a recommendation recommendation J the Mr Taft TaCt said he ventured to doubt it if there would be a majority of the members Willing to assume the responsibility re- re of decreeing that the treaty bo be amended by striking out the constitution tion of the league and committing the Question to further discussion at Paris Taft TaCt stated his opinion that the th Mr problem would have a somewhat different differ differ- ent aspect for senators upon whom would u be be laid the blame for postponing peace Though he be relied upon Americas America's trainIng training train train- Ing for hundreds of years ears In self self- government to counteract the hard cruel murderous spectre of Bolshevism In ht this country countr Mr Taft asserted that if It spreads over and destro destroys s 's the ex exIsting ex- ex sting governments in France and England En En- gland and Italy and threatens them and includes the whole ot of Europe In its poisonous pot poi and contagious s influence we must not minimize Its dangers to our own cIvilization HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY LAID We should not Ignore the profound embarrassment that we would have In our relations to 10 a Bolshevist Europe with Its present civilization destroyed lie he continued Looked at from either a selfish or a world point of vIew no higher duty ever everI was laid upon the United States than I now at thIs critical juncture In the worlds world's affairs to unite with the nations with whom It has won tills war in arms and brought Germany to her knees to keep het hel In that suppliant attitude and saVe her and Europe from the chaos and despair of further war and the InevItable triumph of Bolshevism There must be beI bethe the united force of a league ot of nations I to stabilize conditions and hold them themI I until the new nations created for the purpose shall have the strength with I which they can play their part In making the treaty ot of peace effective DOCTRINE NOT ENDANGERED Mr Mr Taft saw no threat against the Monroe doctrine In the league under which he said America would take the InitIal steps and presumably would be In a charge of repressive action In case of violations on the American continent hn n o n members would a attend at- at I tend h to Europe u and Asiatic 1 members g s to I Asia unless h a conflIct of such seriousness serious serious- ness developed that the peace ot of the I world was endangered et the Monroe doctrIne Itself he declared declared de- de was subject to limitations In some some speeches In the senate he added intimations have been made which enlarge en- en large targe thIs doctrine beyond what can be justified After remInding Ills his audience that no crItic had offered a single constructive suggestion In the way of a substitute 1 plan Mr Taft discussed legal aspects of the project The proposed covenant he said was nothing more than a contract for Cor the benefit of oC the contracting parties It created no he maintained adding that the only soy soy- we have Is that sanctioned by International In- In terna law CALLS IT PREPOSTEROUS Mr Taft took exception on to the argument arSu ment that membership In the league night force upon the United States arbitration arbitration arbi- arbi of the Japanese Immigration question ques- ques tion lie He sail It was preposterous to 1 assume assume as- as sume that all the other nations of oC the world would mite their military forces to compel us to receive Japanese Immigration gration under the covenant Why should I they not do so without the covenant The e former president declared that the world was In In sight of a league of peace I ot of what I hay have ever er ea as the promIsed land lIe ire asserted that our profound sympathy sym sym- paUlY pathy In his purpose and our prayers for Cor his success should go with President Wilson In his great |
