Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-14
Mr.. BoRAH HAS NO EXCLUSIVE
MONOPOLY OF IMAGINATION
His Fancy Picture Of Wars and Ruin
Can BE Readily Matched by One Of
Cheer Based on the Pacific Treaty
and Some Pertinent Facts

Cheer Based on the Pacific Treaty
and Some Pertinent Facts
TTNIIE inclination Of Senator Borah to re-
L gard the future ms mercy the past seen
through another gate is almost as pronounced
with regard to the now four Power compact
as in respect to the Covenant of the League
of Nations.
The most persistent of the irrcconcilabes
is, however. willing to admit that there
might be virtue in the Pacific adjustment
provided the disarmament program Of the
Washington Conference assumes substantial
proportions.
Without this solvent which, by tho way,
appears on the verge Of being nDplied--the
1dahoan surveys the future with the pro-
foundest gloom. Such tricks hath strong
imagination.
Mr.. Borah dismaly succumbs TO the
tcm0tntiOn to Cnv!Sag" war as the logical
end of a protective pact TO insure intCrua-
tional stability. He is entitled 10 his fancies
and 1t is impossible to contradict them
specifically
At the game of matching imaglnations,
however, it must be conceded that several
persons can play. Mr.. Bordh and those
other Senators who rose in opposition to
the Quadruplc pact in the first debate on the
subject on Capitol Hill are incapable Of
actually proving more by their dark horo-
s"oncs than are the proponents of the plan
with their SUMMER visions. No measurement
for impondcrub'cs has yet been found.
MIR. Pomerenc, who spoke for the treaty
on Monday, Is quite as justified in prophesy-
ing brightly on its behalf as is Mr.. Borah in
pcturinF another world wreck. Forecasts
cannot be reduced to II common denomi-
natoI.
1t Is for this reason that so many of the
have been futile. Nevertheless, there is
obviously more potential merit in program
untriPd than in one which treats the past
habits of nations as incurabIc
ihe most modest estimate Of the pOSSibili-
ties OF either the League OF Nations or Of
the Pacific compact cannot ignore tho fact
that the exploration of new paths does not
necessarily promise recurrence Of all the
disasters found along the cd routes.
But the obstructionSts in the Senate are
not content with reducing the issue 10 a
question of skepticiSm or faith which it
actually is, but in familiar style they strive
to rc-enforco their srcculatons with some
characteristic Measurements of fact.
Mr.. Borah protests that he has never
seen an alliance or league in which mill
tary force was provided for. Possibly the
suspicious Senator was never privileged TO
scrutinize the full text of the Triple ALI
ance between Germany, Austria Hungary
and Italy. 'thcrwse, save on the score
Of deliberate misrepresentation, it is difficult
10 account for his contention
Mr.. Reed. of Missouri, is of the oDiniOn
that I'VE have practically no island posses
sions except tn" Philippines and
that Japan and England have together.
either by previous acquisition or the Treaty
Of Versailles, seized every island in the
Pacific Ocean"
1t is tantalizing to wonder what has be-
come Of the POlynesian empire of France.
including Tahiti, the PomotuS, the Australs
and the Marqucsas, and what fag is waving
today over Oahu, Hawaii, Maui. Lanai,
kaui, Molokai, Niihau, KahoolawN, Bnkcr,
Rowland, Midway, Guam, Tutuia, Tau.
Ofu Oloscga. An impression has prevailed
that the Stars and Stripes might be found
flying over the latter groups, but Mr.. Reed
appears unconvinced.
Both Senators are aghast Mt the very idea
OF ignoring the tyrannical moral obligations
OF treaties by the upper house, iorgctful of
what happened in Congress to the IIay-
PauncefOtc Treaty and to the shipping trade
pactS with more than score of foreign
nations. Indetensible as were these be-
trayals and, in the end, Ineffective they
are of record.
M"Ssrs. Robinson, Borah, Reed and STAN
ley all imply that war must be the outcome
OF amy serious controversy regarding Pacific
possessions. 1t is easy to overlook that
formidable remedy of the economic blockade
when it rcfucs 10 square with ebon antici-
patiOns.
Mr.. Watson is distressed that mo man
can tell how much Japan would get out of
the Conference. Granted Il Inolcum of
patience, some enlightenment on this point
is conceivable.
II prophecy cannot be combated with
prophecy. it is at least legitimate 70 dis-
qualify faIlacies Us argumentative aids. 1t
is II ricIiety case which rests upon founda.
t!onS of mendacity and hord falsehood.