Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-18
Even Majority Impressed
With Argument of Idaho
Senator on Endorsement of
Presidents Peace Note.
DECIDED TO ACCEPT
JONES SUBSTITUTE
Plans of League to Enforce
Peace Would Mean the
Surrender Of the Rights of
Nation as Promulgated in
the Monroe Doctrine.

The Washington Times gives United
States Senator w. L. Borah credit for
eliminating the United States from IN
embarrassing position with regard to
the famous Wilson peace note. Over
night consideration Of the adoption by
the senate of the Jones substitute for
the Hitchcock peace resolution left a
dubious feeling concerning it's effect
and brought Senator Borah's remarks
into forceful prominence. The Times
says:
AGREED TO SUBSTITUTE.
So striking were the arguments
brought forth by the recognized leader
Of the Progressive Republicans. that,
in the very middle of his prepared
speech, the majority wing Of the SEN
ate. including even Senator Hitchcock
himself. capitulated and agreed to ac-
cept the Jones substitute.
In many respects the development
was the most spectacular that has &C.
CURED in the senate in a long time.
A solid majority, ready apparently 10
jam through measure by strict
party vote, found itself suddenly over
whelmed by the logic of n minority
leader. and forced to take what 1t
could or suffer complete defeat.
In masterful fashion Senator Borah
tore down the fabric of theory about
which leading pacifists Of the country
have built the ambitious program of
the League to Enforce Peace. While 1t
has been stated privately that Presi-
dent Wilson's ideas concerning the fu-
ture maintenance of peace do not in
volve a combination of powers pledged
to the use of force to maintain peace,
but rather a league of moral suasion,"
Senator Borah showed that from the
presidents promise, in his note. that
the United States was prepared to
contribute all it's influence and re-
sources in support Of an international
agreement to safeguard peace and the
I integrity of the smaller nations, the
world was compelled to infer that he
was prepared to sacrifice the tradition
al American policy Of holding aloof
from "entanging' European alliances.
THOUGHT HE WAS JUSTIFIED.
| In this connection the senator quoted
from the presidents speech last May
before the League to Enforce Peace,
and declared that he was justified in
believing that the president Endorsed
the program of that league. providing
that the United States should join with
European and other powers in an
agreement calling for the erection of
an international tribunal to which all
disputes should be submitted and spe'
cifying that the combined economic
and military forces of the contracting
parties should be used against any of
the signatory powers refusing to sub
nit it's quarrels to the jurisdiction Of
this tribunal.
II such a program means anything,
Senator Borah declared, it means "A
surrender Of the rights Of this nation
as proclaimed by the Monroe Doctrine.
Illustration after illustration he cited
in support of this contention. He as
sumed, for example, situation where
in a South or Central American power
and a European power. both signatorieS
to such an agreement quarrel over
debts owed by the former to the latter.
The European power is willing to have
the question submitted to the tribunal,
but the Latin American republic re-
fuses.
WOULD HAVE TO JOIN.
"If now" said Senator Borah. 'the
United States were bound up in an
agreement such as is proposed as the
compact of this League of Nations TO
Enforce Peace, most assuredly would
the United States have to Join with
the other powers in making war on the
recalcitrant Latin American republic
l. ,;.,f,, eli
uation wherein Mexico, which he as
sumed has been restored as a natioi
and had entered the proposed league
contracted with Japan for the acqui
sition by the latter country of naval
base on Magdalena bay.
Naturally, he assumed, the United
States would protest most vigorously
and decline to submit its case to the
decision of a world court in which II
had but one representative or one
voice among many. Yet, Senator Bo-
rah showed, 1t would have conceded
by its entry into the proposed league
the right and duty Of all other powers
to combine with Japan to force an &C
ceptance of an unfavorable award.
SIGNS OF PANIC.
It WAS at this point in the senator
address that signs of panic began To
be manifest among the Democrats.
There was considerable running
about and many whispered confer
ences, after which, Senator Hitchcock
in response to an inquiry from the
Republican side. declared his willing
ness to accept for his resolution a Re-
publican substitute which pointedly re-
Trained from indorsing any part OF tbs
presidents note save his request for
statement Of peace terms.