San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-27
bORAH OPENS
FIGHT AGAINST
WORLD COURT.
3"
Member Could Not Stay
Out of League, He
Declares.
POLITICAL EFFICIENCY"
Proposed Reservations Are
Hypocritical, He
Says.

washington, ~. -, Apfh 81.
-Snator Borah of Idaho, leader Of
of The Republican irreconcilables in
J, the Senate fight over the treaty of
Versailles and its League of Ma
lions covenant, has started Inaugural
ton of his campaign of opposition to
the administration proposal that the
United States accept membership in
the permanent court of international
justice, the world arbitration tribunal
set up under the League.
In a statement setting forth his
views, the Idaho senator declared
that "the Republican party, in as
sorting that the United States can
go into the League court and stay
out of the League, is taking a posi-
ton which will bring down upon It
the moral condemnation of every one. !"
Sees Political EFFICIENCY.
Il think the proposition that you
can go into the League court and still
continue to be against the League, or
stay out of the League, Is the most
remarkable proposition ever present
ed to the public" MIR. Borah added.
1T is an impossible proposition. II
would never be suggested II political
exigency did not seem to require II.
There can be no court unless the
creating, electlng, sustaining, main
tanning power of the court continues
10 exist. When the League falls, the
court falls. When he League breaks
down, the court disappears. IT the
court is to be preserved, we must FIRST
preserve the League.
"When we become q member of the
court, therefore, if We are in good
faith and believe in the court and
want TO maintain il and build it up
and make il effective, we must become
vitality concerned in everything which
will preserve the strength and main
tain the League.
We are told almost every day that,
unless we join the League, it must
inevitably break down, that without
r-he United States it cannot ultimately
succeed.
"A great campaign is now being or
ganized to ask us into the League in
order that it may be preserved. Sup
,.pose it becomes perfectly apparent TO
! all, as, it now is to SO many, that,
unless the United States goes into the
League, the League must fail. Would
those people who are low advocating
this court under such circumstances
continue to oppose this League an
| let the court perish? They would
! know that the moment, the League
broke down their court must go. What
kind of position of qualification
would man be in who, under such
circumstances. would stand up and
argue that this court is great thing,
that we ought 10 preserve it, but we
must destroy the foundation upon
which it rests.
at is said that we should help de-
stroy the expenses of the court, ana
that is one of the reasons for joining,
that we may bear our proportion OF
the burden. Certainly we should pay
if we make use of it. But the ex-
penses of the court is small item in
maintaining the League. After we
have come to enjoy the benefits of
the court, if there is any to enjoy.
shall we refuse to bear our proportion
of the expenses of the League. without
which we can have no court.
Would Bear Expenses
hdNC bNNh
made by certain governments about
the expenses of the League. Some gov
ernments, according to press dis
patches. have declined to meet their
proportion of the expenses. Yet it is
said that We can take the position
before the world that the vast ex-
penses Of the League, without when
the League would fail and the court
fail, shall be borne by other nations.
This is the position which. I venture
TO say. has never been assumed be-
fore. 1t is an exhibition of grasping
St1fsshness. the like of which no ma
ton ever before advocated.
The League is now in n position
where il must soon be called upon TO
maintain the integrity of article 10.
Suppose it assumes that task, or sup
pose anything else comes along which
tests the strength and stability OF
the League. then every attack upon the
League will be an attack upon our
court.
Every soldier marched against the
League will be marching against our
court. If we still want the court and
believe in the court. shall We say to
tile League people: You fight it out,
you make the sacrifice, We will have
nothing to do with it. we are simply
going TO enjoy the fruits in case you
succeed. TO wit. the court
Reservations Are Hypocritical.
"Does anybody think that, under
hese circumstances, a reservation
me OF those technical things that law
ers like to play with-would have the
slightest effect? IL would be re-
)roach instead of comfort.
Il have my first pro-Leaguer 10
ak to, Republican or Democrat. SEN
tor or private citizen. who does not
believe that the going into this court
axes us into the League and makes
Is part of the League. Our Demo-
ratio friends will no doubt vote
gainst some of these reservations be-
ause they regard them as something
the nature of intellectual hypo-
racy. But they will unhesitatingly
|ote for the court proposition with
he reservations.
"Mr. Hughes and Mr.. Hoover are
10Th advocates of the League. should !
lot for n moment criticize them. be-
ause I must assume they believe in |
he League. They are both under writ |
en- pledges TO the American people 10 !
xert their powers to talsa MS into the |
FNe~~s / congratulate both the gen.
lemen upon fulfilling both their obi
stions and their pledge. There Is
My one thing l refuse to do. and !
Int Is 70 be deceived bv tho opero-