The sun., 1919-02-19
B0RAH ALONE IN
REFUSALT0D
WITH PRESIDENT
Senator Says He Objects to
Secrecy and Opposes
Leagues Plan.
LODGE AND KNOX TO GO
Both Will Refrain From
Criticism Before They At
tend Dinner.
ATTACK BY NARDAMAN
POindeXtcr WithhOlds Dcliv-
cry of His Speech Until
To-day.
ATTACK BY NARDAMAN
special Drspntch 10 The srx.


WARRINGTON, Feb. 1S.-1n declining
to accept the Presidents invitation to
attend the dinner at the White House
at which President Wilson has advised
the Foreign Relations Committee of
the Senate and the House Foreign Re-
lations Committee that he will divulge
to them certain supporting reasons for
the acceptance OF the League OF Ma
tions constitution Senator Borah CIda.)
will stand alone among the legislators.
The course which Senator Borah has
mapped out for himself according to
Senate comment to-day, was one which
in view of his own utterances on the
subject Of secrecy in diplomatic mat
ters he could not we'll have avoided
Despite rumors that other members OF
Congress expected TO decline the honor
just as Senator Borah had a search of
the rolls OF the two committees failed
TO discover any other adherent to the
Borah programme.
Senator Lodge (Mass) already has
accepted the invitation. and it is known
that he will observe the injunction to
silence on the general subject of the
League OF Nations until the White
House meerSng is held.
Senator Knox (Pa.) let 1t be known
tonight that he would have nothing to
say on tho subject Of the league, either
in the Senate or in private, before the
dinner, and that he would accept the
White House invitation.
No Secrecy In the senate.
1t is growing evident. however. that
the Senators, when they come to discuss
the subject OF international affairs in
the Senate. cannot mold themselves to
be bound by secrecy as to the points
which President Wilson Is expected to
lay before them.
IL has been pointed out that once
placed in possession OF the information
which the President has expressed will
ingness to communicate the Senators
will be in a position where, in the dis
cussions OF the problems of peace in the
open Senate or in the Foreign Relations
Committee, they must make use OF the
facts TO make clear their own presenta-
t!on OF the arguments for or against the
lea que constitution.
Senator Poindexter (Wash) to-day
put over his speech until tomorrow He
was unable to crowd IN the necessary
time in to-days session to speak his
mind. He Is expected to discuss the sit
uation at great length and will dwell
particularly upon the extra constitu-
tional character OF the document hold
ing in fact that in several respects the
league treaty is directly a violation Of
the American Constitution.
Borah's Letter of Refusal.
Senator Borah's letter was made pub
lie as soon as II was known that Secre-
tary Tumuty had received II. 1t was
written yesterday and reads:
greatly appreciate your note hon
orlnR me with an invitation to meet
the President February &c to discuss
the League OF Nations matter OF
most vital concern TO the whole coun-
try. Meetings at the White House,
according to a long standing custom.
are always regarded as strictly con-
fdential upon the part of the guests
This meeting. | take II, would be
rega rded as especially confidential,
otherwise the President would have
spoken according to his custom TO the
open Senate.
The differences between the Presi-
dent and myself on this question are
fundamental | am sure no sugges-
ton OF mine would modify in the
slightest the view OF the President
and -rpS. .pg could 'N:H"e me to sup
port this league as outlined in this
prvPssed constitution or anything
like II.
feel, therefore. that it would not
be fair to the President to accept his
confidence or receive from him conf
Dental information concerning this
subject. q Neither in my view of the
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