The sun., 1918-12-07
URGES, BORAH
FLAYS LEAGUE PLAN
Democratic Senator Sees Peace
From Now On in Peace
Merger Idea.
DEFINES SEA FREEDOM
America Would Be Obliged to
Surrender National Rights,
Is Answer.
speciai Despatch 70 THn SUE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Defence OF
the theories OF a League OF Nations
to enforce peace as an outgrowth OF
the deliberations Of the Versailles
peace conference las advanced in the
Senate to-day by Senator Lewis (Ill.)
and provoked from Senator Borah
Gdaho) a denunciation Of the entire
plan as one committing America to
the surrender of her national rights.
In the course of his address Senator
Lewis was at pains repeatedly to tell
the Senate that he was not serving as
the spokesman for ANY one higher in
authority" than himself.
us there no method or action of
Government that a promise peace
and secure the future to preserve
life. a v governments and perpetuate
a Christian civilization" demanded
Senator Lewis. lone device, one sys-
tenn of all others has had the thought
of patriots and the service of Chris
tians. 1t Is to band together the peo-
pies OF the nations into some common
cause of mutual interest to preserve
peace and by this reciprocal advantage
to those who engage with each other
create a bond that pledges for ALL"
The suggestions advanced by the
opponents Of America linking herself
TO an agreement TO let other nations
participate in the adjudication Of ques-
tons as between her and other ma.
tons that 1t means obligating herself
herself to contribute military and
naval forces to help settle other peo-
pies problems was met by Senator
Lewis with the following: las to the
question OF enforcing these judgments
by army and navy, let 1t now be an
nounced that no judgment hat Is 10
be enforced by army or navy will ever
| be enforced"
Gain to Mankind.
Senator Lewis repeatedly referred
to an internal court OF adjustment
Of internal differences. He pointed out
there va nothing seriously to fear
from the failure of such a league more
than n return to the same conditions
which are endured to-day, but at the
same time its success would be dis
tinctly a gain to all mankind. He
would, he said, make the league all
embracing.
Said the Senator: Here, II will be
observed, that which Washington OPP
posed was a thing which no man in
America I now know urges. He OPP
posed our country entering an alliance
with any n country Of Europe in
opposition to some other country in
Europe.
I'VE will note in the proposed plan
no nation Is omitted. every nation is
invited and each upon exact equality"
Throughout the debate Senator
Lewis was subjected to grilling ques-
tons from Senator johnson (Cal.) and
others, who sought to find just how
much OF Americas sovereignty the
Illinois leader was proposing to yield.
The questions were particularly direct
in the effort to win from Senator
Lewis an explanation as to just what
he understood the President to refer
to in his proposal to render the seas
free.
Senator Lewis responded:
we must insist now on unre-
stricted freedom OF the seas. I define
this for the United States to be an
open sea. free ports, free harbors, to
us the same extent any nation extends
TO its WI people, and as extended by
the United States to other nations. l
feel that as to us a free Suez Canal
as to Britain and free Mediterranean
as to France as due in exchange for
our making OF our Panama Canal and
Manila Bay free to the nations"
In conclusion Senator Lewis re-
marked that he pictured our future
as the mother of Tranquility, the guide
Of justice and the director of the har,
monies OF the world"
A demand for the application OF the
clear light OF logic for the softer glow
OF sentiment was made by Senator
Borah. He remarked he had heard
nobody express n willingness to go to
the extreme OF a~nalyzlnz the pro-
posed League OF Nations to a
inality.
we all wish the President the ut
most success at the peace conference,
since he decided to attend, although
many doubt the wisdom OF his going"
said Senator Borah.