Evening star., 1925-04-28

There is wide range of American
opinion as to the influence of Sen
ator Borah on the foreign relations
of the United States. Much atten-
tion Is given to his attitude toward the
policies of President Coolidge, and
various estimates are made of the
quality of his judgment. Some be-
lieve that his sincerity will carry
weight in the plans for another arms
conference, others that lack of CO.
operation on his part will be a serious
obstacle.
The President will find Mr.. Borah
the most formidable obstacle in his
path says the Brooklyn Daily Eagle,
first because he is sincere and ear
nest. and, second. because he is rarely
gifted in the conduct of debate" The
Spokane Spokesman Review believes
the Idaho Senator is incapable of
teamwork or constructive service" ."
This paper observes that president
Coolidge has shown a desire TO work
with Senator Borah and the olive
branch was rejected. He heads
coalition that is essentially obstruc
tive-a coalition that can be held to-
gether only for obstructive ends, and
which would break up over night if
it attempted to fuse on legislative
program" Conceding that the Sen
figure" the San Francisco Bulletin
adds: He is a capable lawyer, he
has had long political experience, he
has presence, powers of expression,
established character for personal
honesty. But there is in the man
an inveterate bias of opposition"
"Borah is not always right" de-
clares the Duluth Herald. More than
once he has seemed to be narrow and
singular. None the less. when he
speaks, Washington crowds the gal
lerieS and the Nation listens. He is
often right. and he loves the right.
Coolidge, the great American from
New England, is not blind to the
great qualities of the great, American
from the Western mountains. The
good qualities of the one supplement
the good qualities of the other" In
similar vein. a picture of the Presi
dent and Senator in friendly confer
ence. taking counsel together, is
painted by the Kalamazoo Gazette.
THE only apparent conclusion" con-
cludes the Gazette, 'is that the Presi-
dent appreciates Senator BorahS
ability or power. as the case may be,
and therefore refuses to inf1ict the
discipline for irregularity which might
have been meted out TO lesser men"
x X x
The Senator is quoted as announc-
ing that he will cooperate with the
President in his proposal for an arms
conference. even if the call for it does
not include land ornaments, in a
Charleston Daily Mail editorial, which
continues: This is a considerable
concession on the part of Senator
Borah and should properly be appre-
ciated. 1t is his desire-and prob
4
us-that there will be no need for
large standing armies anywhere in
the world. But it is not as Senator
Borah. American from Idaho, thinks,
but as the great nations of Europe
think Centuries-old distrusts and the
hard and bitter facts of experience
cannot be wiped out by the soft words
of the altruists."
Viewing the cooperation from an
other angle, the Springfield Repub-
| lican asserts: 1.-The President has no
alternative. under the circumstances,
! to doing business with Mr.. Borah,
whether or not MT. Borah agrees with
the Presidents foreign policies. AS
a Senator and committee chairman,
he is in an Independent position; he
can criticize or oppose the admins
tration's ideas, the more so because
| he is Borah, and every one knows
| that Borah has now acquired an in
dividval status as a free lance"
! Attention is given in some editorials
| to the Senator's attitude on the ques-
ton of Russian recognition. I'VE
| imagine" says the Pittsburgh Gazette
| Times, that Senator Borah is less
fearful of popular unpreparedness to
approve further arms limitation than
| he is desirous of advancing one of his
pet hobbies-diplomatic recognition of
Russia by the United States. He is
right in contending that Russia is d
| factor in world affairs that cannot be
permanently ignored in the reorgani-
zation that is going on. When Russia
| chooses to qualify for recognition it
will be granted. 1t is dangerous folly,
as France and some others have learn
ed, to take Russia prematurely." This
position is supported also by the ST.
Paul Dispatch which states that the
| Senator, ''who, himself, points out
that the scope of the conference can
hardly include more than naval armar