TLS signed “Wm. H. Taft,” two pages, 8 x 10.25, personal Washington, DC, letterhead, April 30, 1919. Letter to Gus Karger. In part: “I deeply regret the announcement of Lodge’s attitude this morning toward the League in respect to the Italian question. If he is committing his party to an opposition, he is running a very great risk of making Wilson a third time the President. For him to oppose Wilson, who is trying to get peace on the other side on the basis of certain principles in which I sympathize with him entirely especially with respect to Italy, it will be properly charged that he is playing for the Italian vote…Lodge is not a far-sighted politician. He is so distinctly partisan and he is personally so very vain and so full of his position in the Senate that his judgment is often politically erroneous…What I am now anxious to do is to see whether it is possible to secure seven or eight, or perhaps ten Republican Senators who will vote for the League as it is. I think Frank Kellogg will. I am hopeful that Smoot can be brought to a position where he will. Cummins has announced that he will…If we have forty-three or forty-four Democrats, it would only need five Republicans to vote against any amendment, because that is where the mischief is to be done by carrying an amendment by a majority vote. If we can prevent that, then the Republicans can not afford to stand on the issue of ‘Peace or continued state of war.’” Underneath his signature, Taft adds: “Can we not count on Groma, Colt and Capper? The latter is slipping.” In very good condition, with intersecting folds, one through a single letter of signature, uniform toning to pages, with some heavier toning and rusty paperclip mark to top left of pages. Accompanied by an unsigned copy of a response to Taft’s letter, presumably from Karger. Henry Cabot Lodge led a very heated and public opposition to President Wilson’s plans for American involvement in the League of Nations. Joined by Ohio Senator William Borah, they spearheaded the opposition of Article X of the Covenant, which called for the league to provide assistance to a member experiencing external aggression. Despite Taft’s best efforts to garner the necessary votes for approval, Lodge succeeded and Wilson was unable to ratify his obligation to join the League. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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