New-York tribune., 1919-01-15
More Guns, Higher
Tax, Seen by Borah
In a World League
Only II Senators Remain
for Debate When Peace
Plan Is Attacked; Shat
roth Defends Proposal

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14.-Increased q
armaments, higher taxes and militar-
ism Of which only Prussia ever has
dreamed are necessities of the League
to Enforce Peace, Senator Borah told
the Senate to-day. The doctrine of
"kill them off" will be applied rigor-
ously to any revolutionaries, he de-
clarcd, no matter how just their cause
and no matter what they may be fight
ing for.
The Idaho Senator said two forms Of
the league had been proposed, one ad-
vocated by President Wilson In his
Rome speech, based on the idea Of or
ganizlng the moral forces Of the world
in support of permanent peace and
the .other based on the organization
Of the military forces of the world.
AS to the possibility of q league
based on the organization Of moral
forces, Mr.. Borah waved his hands in
despair of being able to accomplish
anything. The military force idea.
he said, threatens the "most menacing
consequences to the people Of the
world"
Depends Upon Force
at is now conceded" he said, "that
the distinguishing feature of this
league over all others is that it de-
pends upon force; the fundamental
principle upon which it rests is that
of repression.
Naturally, the first question that
man would ask would be, How are you
going to raise your armies to sustain
this vast military programme of this
league based upon force?' Would the
citizens of the United States volunteer
to enter the army for the purpose of
settling difficulties in the Balkans, for
instance? In other words, we would
have conscription in time of peace
I'VE yielded to the principle of con-
scription in the great emergency
through which we have just passed, but
it is certainly of extraordinary mo-
ment to the people of this country tc
nave presented to them the question Of
conscrlption in time of peace in order
to secure a force with which to sustain
the league which is proposed"
He said that beside conscription
SuCl ledS uc WOulu neCeSSlLdtc tNe
construction of the largest navy in
the world. senator Borah attacked the
appropriation of $600,000,00 for the
enlarged naval programme.
Where Is Enemy? He Asks
II want, if can," he said, "to con-
vey to tn. people the fact that the
league to enforce peace Goes not mean
disarmament. 1t does not mean re-
lieving them from take, or from the
great burdens of war, but of adding to
them permanently and for all time to
come"
During the debate, Senator France,
of Maryland, Republican. introduced
resolution proposing early withdrawal
of American troops from Europe and
postponement of the formation of a
league of nations until after the peace
treaty is concluded.
Senator Shafroth declared a league
Of nations should be formed at once
and vigorously opposed the resolution
of Senator Knox, Of Pennsylvania, Re-
publican, proposing postponement Of
consideration of this question by the
peace conference.
Retention of American troops in Rus
sia was advocated by Senator Thomas,
who said this was necessary to pro-
tect military stores and to aid the
Czecho-Slovak forces. He denied that
war is being waged against the Boil
sheviki, but said some policy to combat
Bolshevism should be adopted.
Shafroth Speaks for League
Senator Shafroth particularly at
tackled the resolution of Senator Knox.
"There are two ways of defeating
the plan for league of nations" the
Colorado Senator said, FIRST, by open
ly opposing and voting against it; and,
second, by postponing its consideration