New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-22
B0raIl Attacks
League as Step
OBOlsheviisnl
Continued from page |

while Mr.. BOrah acknowledged these
tributes. Among those from the Demo
cratic side in the group about his desk
we're Senators Reed, of Missouri; Var
daman, of Mississippi, and Gore Of
Oklahoma.
Vote of People Urged
The speech, in part, follows
81 believe that this proposed pro-
gramme, if it is to be made effective
and operative under the proposed con-
stitution Of the league, necessarily in
wolves a change in our constitution.
Certainly questions of that kind ought
to be submitted to a plebiscite or to a
vote of the people of the country |
am aware that the process by which
that may be done involves some diff
tculties. but they are not insurmouat-
able, and they are by no means to be
compared with the importance of be-
ing right and in harmony with the
judgment Of the people before we pro-
coed.
This programme can never be a sue
cess unless there is behind it the in
telligcnt and sustained public opinion
of the people of the United States.
Therefore, from the standpoint of ex-
pediency, and from the standpoint of
fairness to those who are involved, the
people, the mass of the people, ought
to be consulted and their approval had
before we proceed
docs the cx-Presidcnt of the United
States mean to say to an intelligent
and thinking people that this league,
which thus grants this power to Eu-
ropean nations, IS not Interviewing our
destiny with European destiny? Does
he pretend to say that this is not a
departure from the plain terms of
Washington's farewell address?
Urges Candor With People
at may be that the people OF Amer
lea want to do this; it may be that
they think their future happiness and
tranquility necessitate their doing it,
but | inveigh against the misleading
statement that we do not propose to
90 it by this league Of nations. Let Us
be candid with those upon wnom must
rest the future. and not undertake to
advise them that that is not going
10 happen WNicn NuSt necessarily ana
inevitably happen.
"phe mere reading OF the constitu-
ton Of the league" Senator Borah con-
tinued, will convince any reasonable
mind. it seems to me, that the poll
cies Of Washington and Monroe must
|. depart if it IS adopted. The two prop
ositions cannot exist together. In the
first place, the league provides for an
organization composed principally and
at the present time of five great ma
tions, three Of them European, one
Asiatic and one American. Every pol
icy determined upon by the league and
every movement made by it could be
and might be controlled solely by the
European powers, whether the matter
dealt with the European continent or
whether it dealt with the American
continent. 1t makes no distinction be-
tween European affairs and American
affairs, and ii erects a common tribunal
which has jurisdiction over one con-
tinent as the other, but. in addition to
that giving the majority votes to the
European system"
Senator Borah here read Article X.
which provides for the preservation Of
the territorial integrity Of the member
nations OF the league, and then con-
tinued:
"The first obligation which we as
sumo is to protect the territorial in
tegrity of the British Empire. That
takes us into every part of the civil
lzed world. That is the most radical
departure from the Washington policy.
of the territorial integrity of any
part of the British Empire shall be
threatened, not the Congress Of the
/ United States not the people of the
/ United States, not the governme1 Of
J the United States, shall determine
what shall be done, but the executive
council of which the American people
have one member is to determine
what is to be done. We, if we mean
what we say in this Constitution, are
pledglng ourselves, our honor, and our
sacred lives to territorial possessions
! the world over and not leaving it to
the judgment and sense Of the Ameri-
can people but TO the diplomats of
} EUROPE
Senator Hitchcock If the Senator
will refer to Article III the indica-
tons are that the dominons of the
British Empire are to be regarded as
separate and independent self-govern-
ing countries.
Covered With Indications
Senator Borah-I admire the careful
use of language of the Senator from
Nebraska when he says there are ON
dications." This thing is covered all
over from top 10 bottom with indica-
tons.
"That is the duty devolvng upon
US, to enter European AFFAIRS Sena-
tor Borah continued. "What would be
the duty and the obligation Of Eng
land, Of France, Of Italy and of Japan
TO the other membeSs should d dis
turbance arise upon the Western con-
tlnent? Suppose threat Of danger to
the republic should come from Mexico
or from Mexico and its allies. We are
not even consulted as to whether we
snail call in help, but the duty de-
Veiops upon the council in its init
alive capacity to at once assume juris-
alcton of II and TO proceed to the
american continent TO determine what
their duty shall be with reference to
American affairs. This league operates
upon the Western continent with the
! same jurisdiction and power and The
same utter disregard of which CONT
nent It, IS upon as it does in the Euro
pean continent. Does anybody DENY
that proposition?
Let us take homcly illustration
IN order that those that have not
time to look upon these different dis
tInguishing features of the Monroe
Doctrine and Of Washington's policy
: may understand the situation. A mum
Der OF years ago man by the name Of
F. fa,