Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-12-01
CREDIT BELONGS
TO SEN. BORAH

With the public deeply interested in
the armament conference and with
more or less discussion arising as to
who evolved the idea or a conference
for the purpose of bringing about an
agreement whereby the nations of the
world might reduce their armament
programs and thereby eliminate to
some extent the danger of further
wars and eliminate the certainly of
bankruptcy for some of the nations. a
communication in a recent issue of
the Spokesman-Review from Bartlett
Sinclair OF Boise, and formerly a resi-
dent of Boomers Ferry, well known
Idaho publicist and politician, is of
interest, inasmuch as it points out
ldahos senior senator, William f.
Borah, as the man to whom credit is
due. Mr. Sinclair's communication
follows:
"In a recent Washington Associated
Press dispatch the interesting ques-
ton; Who evolved the American pro
posals for naval Imitation? is pro-
pounded.
The answer to the question. the
Identification of the author Of the pro-
posal for naval limitation, at most is
of minor historical value. The essen
tlal inquiry is, to whom Is credit due
for the conference for naval limitation
now in session at Washington? From
historical standpoint this fact il of
transcendent Importance. At this time
that conference promises to usher into
the world new and better era, a bet +.
ter and more Christian-like civiliza-
ton. The mere phraseology of the in
vitations to foreign powers, or the
mere phraseology of the purposes this
government had in view when issuing
the invitations can be little more than
an incident.
AS to these matters there may be
doubt, but as to the authorship of the
resolutions providing for the confer
ence there is and can be no uncertain
ty. Idaho, one of the smallest of the
states, is proud of the distinction that
in the brain and heart of her senior
senator was conceived this comprehen-
slve scheme for the reduction of arma-
ments and consequently the lessening
OF the chances of future war.
The Borah disarmament resolution.
requesting the president to invite GER
tain foreign countries to send repre-
sentatives to the conference to form
an agreement by which the naval ex-
penditure and building programs shall
be subsequently reduced, is the sole
authority for this conference. now so
apparently pregnant of good.
The resolution was offered by Mr..
Borah as an amendment to the naval
appropriation bill April 10, 1921, and
unanimously passed The president
thereafter, on July 10, in compliance
with the resolutions, sent out the invi-
tations for the conference.
1T is. interesting to note that there
is hanging on the walls of the Idaho
state capital parchment copy, beau
tifully embossed, of Senator Borah's
resolution, together with brief ex-
planatory history of it's introduction
and passage.
"In the New York Times of Novem-
Der IA is two-column report of a
in Carnegie hall in that city, |
that was addressed by Senator Borah |
on disarmament.
In recognition of his part in bring
ing about the Washington conference |
the report says, Senator Borah re-
ceived from his hearers a greeting
which was among the most enthusiasts
tic ever accorded a speaker not a can
didate for high office in this city
1.-The west, always little slow to
bestow honor on its own sons, is es-
pecially so in this instance of modern |
progress and craftsmanship"