The Washington herald., 1919-02-22
LEAGUE PLAN PERIL
TO MONROE DOCTRINE,
SENATOR BORAH SAYS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

are not now Afforded opportunity to
express their unclouded opinion. ''they
Will take the opportunity later to
speak their mind
This plan involves, in my opinion.
a change in our Constitution. That
kind of question should be submitted
directly to the people. We. their
agents. have no authority to decide
1t for them. II we do decide it, we
will assume a greater responsibility
than we ought.
"A referendum involves difficulties,
1 know. but they are not insur-
mountable and by no means COM
parable with the Importance of be-
ing right and in harmony with the
people. The league cannot succeed
gent and sustained public opinion
of the people of this nation"
Sees Doctrine Destroyed.
The Idaho Senator sought to show
by statements issued by European
statesmen that the Monroe Doctrine
would be absolutely destroyed by the
league program. He questioned
whether the American people were
Wiling TO embark upon such a policy.
He declared the proposal meant tear
ing down of the wall of isolation built
up by the policies of Washington and
Monroe and entering upon a policy Of
internationalism.
senator Borah paid his respects 20
former President Taft. who is the
chief spokesman for the league out
side OF President Wilson himself. He
characterized many of Taft's state
ments as misleading" and said he
was not treating the american people
fairly in telling them the Monroe
Doctrine would not be rendered in
nocuous by the league program. He
recited parable OF the farmer
America" and the statesman will
liam HowaTd' in which the farmer
was advised by William Howard to
join his farm to others and surrender
the independence which had made
him prosperous and self-sustaining
The parable greatly amused the Sem
ate.
Senator Borah said he would have
postponed discussion of the league
OF nations program If it had not
been for the issuance of an inter-
view by former President Taft. in
which the statement was made that
the Monroe Doctrine would not be
interfered with. Continuing, he
said:
Mr.. Taft informs the American
people from the pedestal of a form
er President that this does not de-
stroy the Monroe Doctrine, nor the
doctrines of Washington as ex-
pounded in his farewell address
the two doctrines which the Amer
ican people believe absolutely in
dispensable to their happiness and
tranquility.
The ex-President says the Monroe
Doctrine is extended and applied to
the whole world. That was the sit
uation before Monroe announced it.
The Monroe Doctrine simply means
the doctrine of self defense and it can
not be settled by arbitration between
any other power and the power which
pleads it."
Senator Borah said that more read
ing of the league constitution showed
that the doctrines of Monroe and
Washington would have to depart"
If the league were established. He
said it makes no distinction between
European affairs and American af-
fairs. while at the same time it
gives Europe the controlling power
as against America"
The first obligation which we as
sumo under this league plan is TO
protect the territorial integrity of the
British Empire" Senator Borah con-
tinued. That takes Us into every
ha bitable part of the globe. IT is the
most radical departure from the pol
icy of Washington ever proposed. Un-
der the formation of the executive
council OF the league, not the Ameri-
can government. not , the American
people. will determine what is to be
done in a matter affecting this ma
ton, but this executive council in
which the American nation has but
one vote is going to determine what
this government shall do.
Suppose some danger threatens
this republic. Suppose we should be-
come involved with Japan or with
Mexico. We would not even have the
opportunity of helping ourselves or
calling in help. but the league coun-
Gil. upon its own initiative, would de-
eide what shall be done and whether
or not help should be sent TO the aid
of America"
Votes for England.
The fact that the league constitu-
tion recognizes the dominions of
England as territorial entities is of
great significance. Senator Borah
said. adding:
1T means that in the executive
council. Canada will have one vote:
Australia will have one vote; New
Zealand will have one vote. and
South Africa will have one vote,
while America, built by the sacri-
fees of her millions of citizens, will
have but one vote. Those who favor
this program should seriously con-
slider whether they will be willing
to vote to place the destinies of the
Western Continent in the hands of
q council which will have eight
votes to our own.
What has England given up?
What has she surrendered: Will
some one tell me? Has she abandon
ed her opposition to freedom of the
seas? That was given up at an
early stage in these proceedings.
Has she abandoned her idea of hav-
ing the greatest navy in the
world? There is nothing in this
league Of nations plan which will
oppose her ambitions in this respect.
And yet we are called upon to give
up everything.
This is the first step toward in
1t is an attempt to
say that the national state has
broken down and can no longer
serve the nations, and we must.