The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-02-18
HE is OPPOSED TO IN
TERNATIONALIZATION
Sen. Borah Asserts in His
Letter Declining Invita-
ton That He Will Not Be
Bound to Keep Silence
When He and the Presi-
dent Disagree Funda-
mentally.

Washington, D. c., Feb. ls.--Senator
Borah of Idaho has asked to be excused
from attending the dinner at the White
House at which President Wilson will
discuss with members of the foreign rela-
tions committee of Congress the consti-
tuition of the proposed league of nations.
In letter to Secretary Tumulty, Sem
ator Borah said it was the custom to
hold in confidence any information re-
ceiyed at such a gathering, and that he
was not willing to be bound to silence on
such an important subject on which he
and the president disagreed fundament-
ally.
He added that nothing could make him
agree with the constitution OF the league
as it now stood.
White House officials said no other
member of the committees had declined
the presidents invitation, and that it was
understood all the others would accept.
On receiving the Idaho senator's letter
to-day, Secretary Tumulty Immediately
transmitted it by wireless to President
Wilson aboard the transport George
Washington on his way home from
France.
Senator Borah is one of group of
senators, including some Democrats as
wen as Republicans, who oppose any sort
of internationalization
The presidents dinner, to which the
members of the committees of both
houses dealing with foreign affairs were
invited by wireless to 90 over the pro-
posed constitution, article by article, has
been arranged for Feb. 26, a day or two
after the president lands at Boston.
Debate in the Senate, which had been
expected to break out at any moment, in
spite of the presidents request that it
be withheld until after his meeting with
the committeeman, probably win begin
tomorrow.
Senator Borah's letter follows:
4 greatly appreciate your note honor
ing me with an invitation to meet the
president Feb. 20 to discuss the league of
nations-a matter of most vital concern
to the whole country. Meetings at the
White House, according to a long
ing custom, are always regarded as strict
ly confidential upon the part of the
guests. This meeting, / take it, would
be regarded as especially confidential,
otherwise the president would have spok-
en- according to his custom to the open
Senate. The differences between the pres.
ident and myself on this question are
fundamental. | am sure no suggestion of
mine would modify in the slightest the
view of the president, and nothing could
induce me to support this league as out
lined in this proposed constitution, or
anything like it.
81 feel, therefore, that it would not
be fair to the president to accept his con-
fidence or receive from him confidential
information concerning this subject. Nei-
ther, in my view of the subject, could ]
accept information which | would not
feel perfectly free to transmit to my col
leagues or use in public debate After
much reflection, / beg, therefore, to be
excused from attending the meeting.
"ln writing this note and in taking
this course, | mean no personal disre.
spect to or disregard of the president. /
simply find myself in such disagreement
with him and feel so intensely concern.
ing the matter that ! cannot do other
than candidly advise him of the fact"
Senator Borah said he planned to ad.
dress the Senate Thursday.
Several Republican members of the
Senate committee stated privately to.
day that they would not regard them.
selves bound by condolences and that
they would accept the presidents invi
tation with reluctance