Evening star., 1923-04-22
B0RAH UNCHANGED
. BY PLEAS Of CECIL
Idaho Senator, in Reply to
British Supporter of League,
Cites Force in Ruhr.

Arguments made by Lord Robert Cecil,
British exponent Of the league Of ma
tions. to Senator Borah Of Idaho. ire
concilable leader against the entry of
the United States into the league. failed
yesterday to abate in any way the op-
position of Mr.. Borah to the league.
Senator Borah said last night that
he had been impressed with the abil-
ity and sincerity Of Lord Robert dur
ing his conference with him at break
fast at the home of Henry White. a
m ember Of the American delegation to
the peace conference. at whose home
Lord Robert is a guest during his
stay in Washington.
The Idaho senator issued q state
ment setting forth the reasons he had
given Lord Robert for his continued
opposition to the entry of the United
States into the league.
Does Not Construe His Ideas.
IT must not be understood, OF
course" said Senator Borah at the
outset Of his statement, "as assuming
to state Lord Cecil's views, nor con-
strung his league ideas.
But I do not mind saying that
stated to him frankly that in my
opinion the vast majority Of our peo-
Pile were uncompromisingly opposed
to joining any plan or league which
would involve US in European poll
tics-in other words, that a political
organization or an organization which
could be dominated or directed or
controlled by the political forces
would never be accepted by our peo-
pie. That that was my opinion at
least. And that II some plan could
not be worked out wholly different
from that OF a political organization,
1t would be safer for Europe to pro-
ceed upon the theory that the United
States would not be a party to II.
Il further stated that in my opinion
our people had been confirmed in their
views with reference to Joining the
league by what had taken place since
the armistice. had in mind, and
called his attention. as an illus.ra-
tion OF that. to what was happening
now in the Ruhr. That the invasion
Of the Rushr and the ruthlessness
that was now being practiced had
confirmed the people in the belief that
they wanted nothing to do with Eu-
ropean policies and politics.
Policy of Force.
Here was an instance in which a
prominent member Of the league was
under the most solemn obligation to
cooperate with the other signers Of
the league and to adopt a policy of
arbitration and settlement, but had
manitestly entered upon policy OF
force. of war, of destruction of an
other people.
"As another illustration. ] stated it
was my opinion that the policy Of the
allies since the war was throwing
Russia and Germany into each others
arms. and that it was forcing a COM
b.nation between the organization
power of Germany and the manpower
Of Russia. and no greater menace to
the world peace could be imagined.
Here was one great country being
literally crushed by force, and, If
possible, disnembered. and another
outlawed. That couldn't rrean any
thing in the end but a terrific WAT
and II was being done by those who
were solemnly pledged by the league
to do otherwise. In such politics and
with such policies the American peo-
pie could not be led to believe that
he eli oh
effect except to involve US in it. In
other words. 1t was quite apparent
that what Europe wanted was not a
league for peace but a league for wer,
a kind Of bringing together Of GER
tain powers to control and dominate e
and break up and dismember other
powers"
Hostile to World Court
Senator Borah's opposition to the
league runs also to the world court,
set up through the agency of the
league, to which President Hard
ing has proposed adherence by the
United States with reservations
stating specifically that such adher-
ence shall not involve the United
States in the league Of nations.
In the opinion Of Senator Borah
the entry OF the United States in the
world court must bring the United
States into the affairs Of the league.
The court Is an advisory body
to the league" said Senator Borah,
discussing this matter. Suppose the
United States joins in this court and
places a representative on the bench.
Then the league Of nations takes
some matter to the court to be de-
ctded. How can it be that the
United States would not be then in
vclved in the affairs Of the league"
Lord Cecil was in conference with
President Harding at the White
House yesterday, also. discu cussing, 1t
is believed, the league covenant and
world court The impression which
Lord Cecil made at the White House
was not disclosed. He himself would
not discuss his conversation with
the President.