New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-04
VaCiIlation on Armed
Ships Issue Dangerous,
He Asserts.
TIMID POLICIES
HAVE CAUSED WARS
Should Not Temporize in Sus-
tanning Substantial Right,
He Declares.


Washington, March 3. - Senator
Borah in his address to-day arraigned
the Senate for what he calls its evnsiye
action or tho Gore resolution.
- have had but one rule said Sena-
tor Borah. "to guide my conduct since
this unfortunate conflict in Europe be-
Gan and some difficulties closer home
again. And that was, whenever | con-
cCived American right 10 exist and it
was challenged upon part Of any coun-
Try or nation, 20 meet that challenge
without yaciilation or compromise. II
was immaterial TO me whether the
% rites, being American citizens. were
slain upon the sea or IN Mexico.
whether the nation responsible was
small or large. ! measured my duty
BIS the fact that an American citizens
life had been sacrificed and nm Ameri-
can right had been invaded.
81 should therefore. had I been per
mitted to do so. have voted for the
principle that an American citizen has
q right 10 travel on a merchant ship
armed for defensive purposes. Il j. a
right which has been established under
International law for these hve hum
dred years, and in my judgment this IS
not the time for the great American
Republic 20 begin 70 tempOrize and
compromise with reference TO those ma
tionsl rights which have been so long
established and which every belllgerent
power has ~ some time in its history
recognized. II these principles OF in
ternational law are made unsound by
changed conditions Of warfare. now j.
not the time for Us 70 change them.
Our purposes in doing 50 would be mis-
understood and misconstrued.
Indeed. think that there is nothing
so dangerous in great emergencies as
v8cillatiou, nothing 90 calculated to
bring on war as timid policy with
reference TO national rights.
Senat. Should Not Temporize.
81 therefore believe that it was the
proper thing for the Senate OF the
United States, after full and fair dis
cussion and ter presentation of
the question, the integrity Of which
could not be questioned. TO have gone
or record 10 the effect that at this me,
al least. while We are practically, as
i were, Under fire in a sense. thst ws
viii neither temporize nor compromise
with that which we had contended for
through this century and more than a
quarter while we have been nation.
I think, furthermore, il is d valuable
right, substantial right. and that
its surrender would involve national
prestige and honor.
"Firmness and decision will more
often prevent war than bring on war.
The opposite policy has time and again
led 10 q different result from that
which it was anticipated ". uld be the
result.
81 believe, furthermore. that If Sir
Edward Grey had answe ed positively
and definitely the question OF the Pres
dent of Z c French Republic. when
he was asked in the last days Of July,
1914, what he would do in case Ger
many invaded Belgium, in all probs-
bility this war would not have been
begun. But when the President Of the
French .epublic presented the question
10 Sir Edward Grey az 70 what would
be the attitude OF the British Empire,
instead Of answering positively and de-
cisively, as one who knew the right
an was willing 20 su tort Il, he state
10 the President Of the great French
Republic that he would have TO wait
and see where the interests Of the Brit
ish government lay-and quote a.
most his language. 1t is always un-
fortunate IN crisis TO have a man
wanting decision md courage, wanting
in the genius for responsibility.
81 believe, Mr.. President, further.