Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-07
TREATY ATTACKED
BY SENATOR BORAH
Says United States Is Forcing
Pact Because Nicaragua
Is Weak.

Does size make difference in our
relations with foreign nations"" asked
Senator Borah of Idaho in a statement
made public today attacking the treaty
between the United States and Mica =
ragua which is now pending before
the Senate for ratification Senator
Borah demanded tina; the treaty be
considered in the open Senate.
Have we one foreign policy for
very small and very weak nations, an
other policy for somewhat larger and
more belligerent nations and a third
policy for a very strong and powerful
nation continued Senator Borah.
70 four years our warships have
shadowed the capital of Nicarag
been camped in the White House
grounds of that nation. Now at the
end of that time, we are seeking to
force a treaty with that nation, and
the only representative of Nicaragua
is so-cal1ed president of the republic
who does not represent the people of
Nicaragua, but who was put into power
and remains in power by virtue only
and alone of our government. The sole
authority for his acting in behalf of
Nicaragua are the marines who are
camped in Managua
Compares Conditions in Mexico.
"Why did we take possession of Mica
ragua and why have we been in pos
session for the last several years. 1t
has been argued that we went there
because two Americans were killed.
Only two? No one contends than less
than three hundred have been killed in
Mexico and at least thirty of them
were on this side of the border Others
have argued that the Nicaraguans were
without a stable government and that
unless we interviewed chaos would fol-
low. What kind of government have
they in Mexico and what kind of gov
eminent have they had for the la st
three years? We destroyed the only
semblance of government when we
drove Huerta out and chaos took his
place. 1t is further argued that we
could not stand by and see bankruptcy
and decentralization in Nicaragua But
has not bankruptcy and demoralizat
prevailed in Mexico for the last few
years and to some extent, at least, by
reason of our own actions" At the pres
ent time there is no denial that not
only hundreds but thousands of people
in Mexico are dying of starvation and
disease, Superinduced by the indescrib-
able conditions which prevail there.
Il would like to invite attention to the
tact that all treaties in these days
might well be considered in the open,
ana thaG tnere ought TO be a Srea
deal more publicity to our foreign af-
airs than We have heretofore given to
them. IF the war in Europe had wait
ed until the people in Europe initiated
it. it would not have been begun, and
had the people of Europe known what
was going on and been entirely famil-
lar with the manipulations within the
jurisdiction of secret diplomacy a
vastly different result might have been
obtained. Lord Haldane, after this war
commenced, said: L cannot help think
ing that the present war should bring
to a permanent end the system where
by political personages use peoples as
paWns on chess board. | think secret
diplomacy will depart
Our esteemed President, in speak king
with reference to the Mexican situa-
ton. some time ago said do not
quote his exact words-that Mexico
should be permitted to work out her
own affairs and that her destiny was a
thing of her own weaving, and that so
long as he was President no one should
interfere with the internal affairs of
Mexico. If that is a sound rule for
Mexico, why is the reverse of the rule
good thing for Nicaragua?'