Evening star., 1918-06-12
SENATE DEFEATS
B0RAH PLAN FOR
0PEND|P[OMACY
Amendment to Proposed
CIoture Rule Provided Open
Debate of Treaties.
VIEWS OF PRESIDENT,
IN OPPOSITION, READ
Long Discussion Of Question Is
Succeeded by Vote, Which
Stood so to %.

SASSSSNSo W soSS3 " AAAS>A
Stood so to %.
Open diplomacy as provided in the
Borah amendment to the proposed
Underwood wartime cloture rule was
defeated in the Senate today, follow
ing the reading of letter from Presi-
dent Wilson, in which he opposed the
Borah amendment. The vote was so
to 90. Most of those favoring the
amendment were republicans. The dem
ocrats voted soidly against the pro-
posal.
The Borah amendment provides for
the consideration in the open Senate
of treaties between the United States
and foreign nations, unless by a two
thirds vote the Senate determines to
consider treaty behind closed doors.
Presidents Views Quoted.
The Presidents views on open
diplomacy" were set forth in letter
he wrote to Secretary Lansing of the
State Department on March IL, after
Senator Borah had introduced his
resolution.
In his letter the President, explain
ing his statements in his address of
January 8, advocating "open COW
enants OF peace openly arrived at"
said he had particular reference to
the prevalent practice in Europe of
keeping secret those treaties that
have been ratified.
Treaties, the President indicated in
his letter, should be made public after
their negotiation. The processes of
negotiations, however, he suggested,
can be better satisfied without undue
publicity, which might embarrass
their course.
Asks for Careful Memorandum.
At wish you would be kind enough" !"
the President wrote Secretary Lam
sing, Ito formulate a careful and con-
elusive memorandum for the use Of
the committee OF the Senate with re-
gard to the inclosed resolutions. I
take it for granted that you feel as !
do, that this is no time to act as the
resolution prescribes;. and certainly
when I pronounced for open diplo-
macy I mean that there should be no
private discussions of delicate mat
ters, but that no secret agreements
should be- entered into and that all
international relations, when fixed,
should be open. aboveboard and ex-
plicit."
Letter Read by Senator Hitchcock.
The letter was forwarded to Chair
man Hitchcock Of the Senate foreign
rnJo Oh,
cock presented the Presidents letter
Immediately after the Senate recon-
vened to consider the Borah amend
ment, and declared it was "conclu-
sive answer" to Senator Borah's con-
tention that the President meant to
advocate public discussion and nego-
tiation OF treaties.
Urges Retention Of Present Rule.
ing the Borah proposal. denied that a
vote on it was for open or secret
diplomacy" He argued the present
rule for considering treaties should
be retained. and that decision as to
whether a treaty should be consid-
cred in open session should be made
when the treaty is before the Senate.
1--WE have open diplomacy now," de-
clared Senator Pomerene.
In reply to Senator Hitchcock and
commenting OIl lAC q letter,
Senator Borah insisted that the Presi-
dents language in his open diplo-
macy" address could not be construed
other than as a declaration for public
negotiation. as we'll as announce
ment of treaties.
Reads Further Statement.
Referring to the Presidents declara-
tion for "open covenants of peace
openly arrived at" Senator Borah pro-
ceeded to read a further statement
from the address of January 8, in
which the President stated that
diplomacy shall proceed always
These two statements. Senator
Borah asserted, convinced him that
the President meant to declare for
public negotiations.
use of language" said Mr.. Borah.
1.-The language Is not subject to- mis-
construction. The language clearly
and unmistakably gives its import"
Underwood Vote Near.
Now that the Borah amendment has
been disposed Of. it is likely that the
Senate will come to vote on the Under
wood amendment itself. and that the
amendment will be adopted. AS it stands
the amendment to the rules would all
low each one hour and a half in which
to address the Senate on any measure
and twenty minutes on any amendment
therto. 1t is expected the vote will be
close.
Opponents of the Borah plan renewed
their attack yesterday afternoon. SEN
ator Hitchcock of Nebraska, chairman OF
the foreign relations committee; Senators
Reed Of Missouri, Mclean of Connecti-
cut, Brandegee Of Connecticut, Smith of
Arizona and others criticised the amend
ment.
Senator Borah vigorously contended
that his proposal is in accordance with
President Wilson's statement in his ad
dress of January for open covenants
of peace openly arrived at"
Challenging the Idaho senator's con-
struction. Senator Hitchcock declared
IT "preposterous" and said the Presi-
dents words were aimed at the gen
z, al European practice of making Sc
cret treaties without informing the
people This construction also was
maintained by Senator Smith of Ari-
zona of the foreign relations commit
tee, while Senator Hitchcock added
that it is not to be presumed that
peace treaties will be made in a
public hall"
Votes for Military Training.
PHILADELPHIA, June 12.-The