The Washington herald., 1921-09-27
Says They Would Involve
The United States for
Generations.
RAPS VERSAILLES
AND COMMISSION
Reparations Body an Au-
tocratic Government,
He Declares.


Ratification of peace treaties
with the central empires would in
volve America in European political
affairs for generations to come, in
the opinion of Senator Borah OF
Idaho.
Borah launched an attack on the
treaties when their consideration
was begun in the Senate yesterday.
He condemned the treaty of YER
sailles and the reparations COM
mission, in which he said America
would become entangled under the
treaties.
A Surrender Of Policies.
Il believe ratification of this
treaty is a surrender of the ira
ditional policies of this govern
ment and will involve us intermin-
ably in the affairs Of Europe" said
Borah. The second step. which is
inevitable, will involve Us in all
the affairs of Europe. economic.
political and financial. and will
force us into all the things we were
supposed to have escaped when we
escaped the league of nations"
Borah condemned the Versailles
treaty as imperiahstic, built on
force and designed to exploit and
subject peoples. 1t is even more
Objectionable, he said, than the
T.aa ~ ah4 H.,
no way be recognized.
Rapps Commission.
He said he could not consent to
a treaty which would enable this
country to participate on the repair
ations commission. If the treaty
was ratified, Borah said, he was
certain an effort would be made
for participation on the commission,
which meant ENHANCEMENT in Eu-
ropean affairs for generations, and
meant that America must be a party
to enforcing oppressive decisions.
The commission. Borah argued; is
an autocratic government super
| imposed over the central empires,
possessing power to dominate the
existence of millions of persons He
predicted that the German people
would before long refuse to abide
by its decisions.
In discussing the Versailles
treaty, Borah declared there could
he no disarmament ard no world
recovery SO long as il remained in
existence
Says II Causes Turmoil.
The treaty hovers ike a storm
cloud on the horizon, said I:orah
There can be no recovery so long
as IL exists. We surrender every
tenet Of American faith il we recoe-
n:zH 1t. 1t has produced turmoi.
! everywhere. 1t is my opinion dis
armament on land is an :rrpoysi-
bility SO long as the Versailles
treaty exists. With the league of
nations eliminated 1t stands as a
complete militaristic document"
Senator Lodge, chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee, said
\ the fear that America might ioin
the reparations commission was un-
necessary. The President even now.
he said, could. II he chose, ask Con-
gress for legislation to make this
possible.
Settles Peace and Claims.
1 Lodge declared that the treatv
reserves certain rights under GER
tain clauses of the treaty of Yer
sailles for the United States, IL the
United States chooses to assert
these rights.
| In other words" he said. I'VE
have the assent of one party to the
treaty of Versailles to our claiming
those rights and advantages IL we
see mt. and that is all We get, or all
that Germany could give under this
treaty"
Lodge said the treaty settles the
two outstanding questions - actual
peace and claims
Senator King, Democrat. declared
the treaty does not advance actual
peace. and that claims cannot be
presented except through the treaty
OF Versailles, contentious which
Senator Lodge disputed.
Williams Changes Mind.
Senator Williams, a Democratic
member of the Foreign Relations
Committee, announced that he had
changed his mind and would moi
vote for the treaties, as they left
out of consideration the allies anC
associates whose soldiers died will
ours on the battlefields."
Originally. Williams said, hi
thought it would be best, to ratif,
the treaties because the countr,
! wanted them. But he said he hat
decided he would not surrender to 6
political motive"
Democrats are to caucus today t.
. determine their attitude on tn,
J treaties. The question of night ses
} sions for consideration of tn
. treatfas will ha dacidad oStar .h,.