Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-28
Sen. BOrah Brands
Association Nations
AS League in Disguise

The continuing "association of ma
tons" which, according to reports.
President Harding has foreseen as a
possible outcome OF the armament
conference, would be "the old League
of Nations under another name"
Senator Borah, Republican of Idaho,
declared in a statement issued to-
night.
Senator Borah's statement follows:
1.-THE proposed association Of ma
lions has not yet been reduce TO form
nor yet defined. But from what ore
can gather here and there it is the
old League of Nations under another
name. 1t will be engaged in precisely
the same kind of work and doing the
same kind of things that were propos-
cd by the league. 1t is not what you
call it but what it is that counts.
Fundamentally and in the practical
workings of the association of nations
it will not differ from the League OF
Nations. I see no reason. therefore.
why the 40 nations which have signed
the league should be asked ia aban-
don it and transfer their name to al
go into this kind of a proposition,
there is no reason why we should not
experiment with the one they have.
1T is claimed by the advocates of
the league that the present league Va
been of much service to Europ-. IF So.
there is no reason for asking Europe
to scrap the old league and try a new
ought to go IN. II we arc not, VIC
ought not to be handing her new
league every 90 days. She viii likely
conclude that after the next presiden.
tial election she would have another
league. 1 see no difference whatever
in joining the present league and join
ing another league by now name.
THE United States operates under
a written constitution. Great Brit
ain has no written constitution. One
of the arguments being put forth
now in favor Of the association of
nations is that Mr.. Wilson made a
mistake in giving his plan written
constitution, that We should adopt
the British idea and undertake to
conduct the League or an association
of nations without any written con-
stitution or written covenant what
ever. In other words, that the new
association will consist of represen-
tatives of different governments COM
ing together width no limitation up
on their jurisdiction or power or au-
thority other than their own discre-
L
behind closed doors with nothing to
direct or limit their powers gave their
own will and discretion would be &
rather interesting proposition. I am
inclined to think that if the Amer
lean people choose league they will
choose one which has it's powers de-
fined; or at least. an attempt to de-
fine them, rather than trust their
destiny to the unbridled discretion of
a few men.
Lloyd George suggested some time
ago. according to the press dis
patches, that the Anglo-Japanese al
lance be extended to an Anglo
American-Japanese alliance and that
this alliance take upon itself the duty
of administering China. Now, it is
said that such an alliance would be
wholly Objectionable to the American
people but that under an association
of nations. the same thing could be
effectuated and accomplished. 1t is
also being urged that while the peo-
pie of the United States would not
be willing to form an alliance with
France and Great Britain to guaran-
tee the security of France the same
thing could be accomplished under
an association of nations without any
explanation.
1T is also urged that the interna-
tional debt could be more success
fully manipulated through the asso-
citation. All of which things simply
disclose that the association of ma
tons is another name for the league
with some additional and more eX-
tensive powers annexed.
1T does not appear as yet whether
we are to have two leagues or one
league and one association or wheth-
err it is to be that the league organ
ICED by Mr.. Wilson will be urged
into the association organized by
President Harding. It will be very
difficult to get rid OF the present
league unless the Versailles treaty is
radically modified. but I presume We
will know when the matter is reduced