Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-30
Borah Sees Wall st.
as League Bdcker
CONTINUED From Pare On.

asserted he could not vote to ratify il
without violating his oath of Office.
by ratifying the treaty and league
Of nations covenant" said Senator Fall
1--WE make q scrap of paper OF the
Declaration of Independence aud brand
its signers as falsifers. The adoption
OF the treaty with or without the cove
nant marks an entire reversal of the
policy Of this country in foreign affairs
to say nothing of its limitations upon
our municipal law.
"we went to war with Germany be
cause of specific acts of war of Ger
many against us; we INDUCED with
President Wilson. in the hope that
peace might bring conditions which
would make for the betterment of man .
kind and render wars less likely TO
occur.
Willing to Go Part Way
II will. to attain these objects. 60
as far as my sense of my obligations
10 the people of the United States and
TO my government Justify. I would
have voted and will vote to bind this
country to abide the decision upon in
ternational questions. not affecting our
national honor or the Monroe Doctrine,
or municipal regulations. such as
naturalization. 7 would agree to an
additional limitation of sovereignty in
enforcing such decree by blockade or
other means. to bc decided by us: but
! could not vote 10 allow even that
court to declare war for us. nor to cXer-
else the powers which its decisions by
our agreement might limit or restrain.
'"The President holds no commission
from the people emitting him to form
or Join in creating or forming another
government Attempt to ratify any such
act by the state would in my judg-
ment be violation Of the senatorial
sworn duty.
The New Mexico Senator declared the
league covenant undoubtedly would i'm
pair national sovereignty.
by its terms" ho continued. "Sov
ereign power is not only limited in each
member and for each nonmCmbcr state
but is delegated to Il body. whether a
super or partly supine government.
not contemplated by the makers of our
nation and the trainers of our Constitu-
ton.
I'VE might. by treaty. constitution
ally, agree to the formation Of. and be
come one of. a league, and constitution
ally agree to the provisions of article
twenty three of the proposed Coustitu
ton. although by SO doing yielding
something of the sovereignty of this
nation.
Monroe Doctrine Article an Insult"
of course we cannot agrce to article
twenty one-the wording of this So
called reservation of the Monroe doc
trine is of itself an insult to those who
announced the principle and to the in =
telligence of the Americans who believe
in it.
The treaty, aside from the league
articles, is in very many of its pro-
visions a restriction of our sovereignty
That our signature to the treaty creates
an obligation upon us with reference to
the majority of its provisions is beyond
question.
Without our signature We could,
under international law. protest dplo-
matically the delivery of the Shantung
province to the empire of japan. Hav-
ing signed the document of delivery we
such diplomatic or other procedure. BY
the terms of the covenant we guarantee
not only the delivery. but the possession.
even to the use of our treasure and
the shedding of our blood, TO secure
and maintain it in the name of peace "
Describing the league of nations as
workable plan ito marshal the civilized
nations against such acts of aggression
as Germany and Austria pcrpetruted iu
this war" Senator Gerry told the Sen
ate that acceptance of the league cove
nant was an absolute necessity to pro-
tect American rights and preserve civ
ilization during the reconstruction pc
riod.
Predicating his argument upon OBJ
servations during a visit TO England
France and Belgium. he said the peoplc
of Europe were pinning hope of better
era upon a faith that the United States
would take the lead in a league to pre-
vent war. He analyzed the league
covenant and declared it contained
nothing subverting American sovereignty
nor destroying American policies.
Prevention Better Than War
The real question said Mr.. Gcrrv.
lis whether we believe that it is better
for the United States to have a saw in
European matters and thus try to pre
vent another horrible war. or TO keen
our hands off and wait until the world
is af1ame and then endeavor to assert
our might to protect our ports. In one
case we have a hand in shaping the
dcstinies of mankind. In the other VIC
suffer the consequences that are likely
to come from an uncomfortable situa
tion in Europe.
For four years Europe has passe,
through an era of horrors. depriyo
tions and bloodshed that has shaker
the very foundations of our civiliza
ton" continued Senator Gerry. "Al
nations have enough war debts an,
heavy taxes to pay. and many Of tn,
necessaries of life are procured Will
difficulty. America is looked TO as th
main hope. The people of western
Europe went through all this tprribl
period and kept their heads. becaus
they believed that there was bette
time coming to them. 1t is this spiri
that is the foundation in my Judgment
of the support that President Wilson
has received for his league of nations.
Deploring partisan consideration q
the league proposal, Mr.. Gerry said
MANY prominent Republicans in m
state have expressed the hope that