Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1919 — TAFT SPEAKS ON KNOX ATTACK [ARTICLE]

TAFT SPEAKS ON KNOX ATTACK

Says Senator’s Indictment Against League Is Without Basis. New York, March 12. —Analyzing Senator Knox’s objections to the proposed covenant of the league of nations, William H. Taft in an address here last night before the Economic club declared that the covenant does not transfer the “sovereignty of this nation to the governing body of the league," which Senator Knox “asserts the executive council to be.” “When Senator Knox’s attack upon the validity of the covenant is analyzed it will seem to rest on an assumption that the executive council is given executive powers which is unwarranted by the text of the covenant,’’ said Mr. Taft. “The whole function of the executive council is to be the medium through which the league members are to exchange views. The advisory board to consider all matters arising in tjie field of the league’s possible action and to advise the members as to what they ought by joint action to do. “The council makes few if any orders binding on the members of the league. After p. member of the league has agreed not to exceed a limit of armament, the executive council must consent to raising the limit. Where the executive council acts as a mediating and inquiring body to settle differences not arbitrated, its unanimous recommendation of a settlement must satisfy the nation seeking relief, if the defendant nationr complies with the recommendation.

“These are the only cases in which the United States as a member of the league would be bound by action of the executive council. All other obligations of the United States under the league are to be found in. the covenants of the league and not in any action of the executive council. When this is understpod clearly, the whole structure of Senator Knox’s indictment falls.” Dr. Henry van Dyke, former United States minister to the Netherlands, was another speaker. He declared that unless a league of nations is established the world will be in Imminent peril of drifting back into the chaos from which thp overthrow of German militarism “should -have delivered mankind.”