Mohave County miner., 1917-01-27
CRITICISMS OF
 PEACE LEAGUE
 ARE ANSWERED

and Senator William E. Borah ot Idaho have made of the League to En- force Peace, former President William Howard Taft spoke tonight in defense of the scheme. He addressed the Chamber of Commerce of the Borough of Queens, and after outlining the pur- poses of the league he dismissed Colonel Roosevelt's criticisms in few words. He said:
 "Mr. Roosevelt objects to the league with great emphasis. It would have added to the usefulness of his criti- cism if he had read carefully the pro posals of the league. He assums that the league proposes that the judg- ments and recommendations of com promise reached shall be enforced by the league. This is a fundamental er- TOT. We may therefore dismiss fur ther consideration of Mir. Roosevelt's objections"
 MT. Taft pointed out that "the league contents itself, and believes that it will make long step forward if it succeeds in securing world agreement by which hearings of the irritating issue may be had and de- cision rendered before war is allowed to begin. It is confident that, in most cases, a war thus delayed for full discussion of the issues and a fair de- cision will never come"
 Taking up the objections of Senator Borah, MT. Taft said: "He objects to the league because he says it will in volve the United States in a surrender of the Monroe doctrine and in momen- | tous obligations. I quite agree that the league will involve momentous conse- uences, and I also quite agree that the people of the United States ought to understand exactly what those conse- quences are and the burdens that they | would assume,
 Senator Borah supposes three cases to show it's dangers. In the first, Rus sia and Japan, being members of the league, with all the other great na- tions of the world, have a controversy over a matter in Manchuria. Russia i refuses submission to a court or com mission, and begins hostilities against Japan. Under the league, England, France, Germany, Austria, Italy and the United States would unite forces with Japan to defeat Russia's attack. | The United States would have to con- tribute men and vessels according to some equitable rule prescribed in the treaty, proportioned to resources and geographical location. This is the ex- treme responsibility which the United States must face. This is the burden she might have. But it is improbable. With knowledge of this union of tre- mendous forces against her, Russia would not be likely to violate her plighted faith. The moral effect of the power of the world would prevent her. Ought the United States not be willing to run the risk of being called upon to contribute her quota in such a remote contingency in order that the power of the world may become eff fective without actual use of force to stop war?
 'The second case suggested by Sen ator Borah is this: Mexico transfers part of her territory to Japan, and Japan takes it. Thus the Monroe doc Urine is violated. The United States protests and Japan demands submis- sion under the league. The question is a political one. The Monroe Doc Urine does not involve or rest on prin- ciples of international law. It would be submitted to the commission of con ciliation, which would, after needed time, recommend a compromise. The United States, if it did not subscribe to the compromise, might honorably refuse to accept it and begin hostilities against Japan. Under the 30 treaties initiated by Mir. Bryan, and consented to by the senate (unless Japan is not in the 3O), the United States could not even now begin such hostilities within a year. In that respect in the maintenance of the Monroe Doctrine, therefore is the United States at a disadvantage? "The third case supposed by Senator Borah is that Argentine and Euro pean government have a dispute and Argentine refuses to submit. If Ar genuine begins war against the Euro pean country, then the powers of the league must be used against her, and European forces jointly with our own will punish her for violating her plighted faith and treaty obligations. This is said to involve an abandon
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