The Washington times., 1924-01-07
BOX PRIZE PLAN
FAILS To STIR
CAPITOL
Senators Generally Adhere to
Old Views on Entering
League

United States adhere ct once to
the World Court and cooperate
with the League OF Nations with
out joining it at present, failed to
make any material dent today In
the views that prominent Senator'S
and congressman already hold on
these two questions.
Democrats who favor Americas
entering the League hailed the plan
as a forward step" in educating
the American people to the need for
greater American participation in
European affairs.
The Republicans, and particularly
the 'frreconcilables" OF the Senate,
generally disapproved OF the plan
or were silent. Some characterized
It 80 "a resumption OF League of
Nations propaganda.
COlled League Plan"
Senator William E. Borah CRY Of
idaho, who fayors entering the world
court under certain conditions. but
who is opposed to entering the
league, declared the plan to be
a league plan"
1T is nothing but League Of
Nations plan, pure and simple. |
suppose, Of course, It win mean a
renewed and heated discussion Of
the whole league question that we
settled two years ago.
1t may mean another league
fight. or at least a fight for the
world court in the Senate, but /
DO not think the league issue is
popular enough throughout the
country to have any fundamental
effect on the 1924 campaign. II
certainly has not reconciled the lr.
reconcilables."
On the other hand. Senator King
said:
ut has many admirable qualities
and In my opinion viii commend
itself to the conscience Of the
American. people. My only criticism
is that It does not go far enough.
Il believe the advantages to be
derived from execution of this plan,
great as they would be, would be
lmmeasurably greater II the United
States became q member Of the
league"
Seen aS Futile,
Senator Brandegee Rep9 Of Con.
necticut said:
Before care to comment def.
nitely upon the plan, want to
know just how 1t is proposed that
this country should accept It.,
whether 1t would require action by
both branches of Congress and the
President, or what we are to do.
It covers columns in the newspa.
pers without setting forth any def.
mite proposals. At least. it will fur.
nish columns of copy for the news.
papers, and WIN be the subject OF
many speeches all over the country,
but 1t is not made clear to me how
the United States can use 1t. In
the last League Of Nations fight IN
the Senate we had treaty before
us. Now we have nothing but
mass Of vague generalizations.
Senator Din pem.) of Washington.
II think the referendum vote on
the Box peace plan is ridiculous in.
sofar as it viii have any effect upon
the Senate. The plan sn1acks OF
propaganda. On q referendum on
the League of Nations three years
ago. the people voted 100000
against the League. Now the only
way to conduct another referendum
on the League is through Q similar
Presidential election" ts
Senator Glass Dem) OF Virginia.
IT have only one peace plan
that is the League Of Nations"
Box Plan Interesting"
Senator Robinson, Democratic
leader Of the Senate. OF Arkansas--
IT do not wish to discourage any
plan or proposal looking toward per-
Inanent international peace. The
press reports Of the winning Box
Peace Plan do. not impress me that
the plan contemplates any very
effective remedy. Those Of US who
favor the United States entering the
world court know that the lmita:
tions on the Courts Jurisdiction
make it at best a feeble agency.
The Government 10 now co-operat.
ing with the league in the matter
of suppressing the opium and white
slave traffic and In certain other
efforts Of an international char.
acter, particularly including quar-
antine measures. Everybody In the
United States favors continuing the
Monroe Doctrine and there is strong
sentiment for the development and
codification of international law.
The referendum proposed in the
Box plan will be interesting but it
does not seem calculated to accom-
plish the settlement OF international
problems"
The plan in brief proposed:
I. That the United States shall
Immediately enter the Permanent
Court of International Justice, un.
der the conditions stated by Secre-
tary Hughes and D~esident Hard.
ing In February. 1923
II. That without becomingA mem.
Der OF the League Of Nations as at
present constituted, the United
States shall offer to extend it's
present cooperation with the League
and participate in the work Of the
League as a body OF mutual counsel
under conditions which
1. Substitute moral force and pub
lie opinion for the military ana
economic force ORIGINALLY implied
In Articles x and XVI.
2. Safeguard the Monroe Doctrine.
8. Accept thA fact that the United
States will assume no OBLIGATIONS
under the Treaty Of Versailles
except nv Act Of Congress.
4. Promise that membership In the
League should be opened to all
natiNwq.
8. Provide for the continuing d.
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