Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-24
VOICED own VIEWS,
BORAH DECLARES
Says He Received No Sug.
gestions From White House
or State Department.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Neither the White House nor the
State Department inspired or suggested
the remarks of Senator Borah in his
interview yesterday with the French
correspondents.
The chairman of the Foreign Rela-
tions Committee made this plan today
when he was told several of the French
correspondents had said the interview
was pre-arranged by the State Depart
ment and with the knowledge Of Presi-
dent Hoover.
There was no suggestion" said the
Idaho Senator toda:', from the White
House or the State Department. The
interview was arranged at the request
OF the French correspont ,nts them
selves. and made 1t clear waS ex-
pressing my personal views only. re-
ceived no inspiration whatsoever or sug-
gestion from the President or anybody
else"
During his interview. Mr.. Borah told
the French correspondents he believed
an all-around cancellation of war debts
ana separations was possible under GER
tain conditions and he believed there
could be no disarmament until the in
Justices wrought by the Versailles treaty
on boundaries had been corrected. For,
he said, tie treaty would have to be re-
vtsed by peaceful means or by war and
that obviously there could be no se-
curity until the uncertainty was re-
moved.
Treaty Sensitive Issue.
To the extent that Mr.. Borah favored
canceling debts with the exception OF
the so-called unconditional payments
due France he pleased the French news
paper men immensely. When he criti-
cized the Versailles treaty he, of course,
touched sensitive spot, for the French
think any discussion Of revising the
treaty encourages the Germans and stirs
for while. In fact. it has been sug-
gested that political truce for 10
years would be advisable while the
status QUO is maintained
Mr.. Borah has had several confer
ences in recent weeks with the Presi-
dent and the Secretary Of State.
While, naturally. they would not essay
to tell the Idaho Senator what he could
or could not say publicly, for after all
he speaks as chairman Of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. it Is true
that Mr.. Borah would not choose a mo-
mert as critical as the present to ex-
press any view that was materially di-
vergent from that Of the President.
AS a matter of fact. the Borah in
terview emphasizes what has been
known for some time, namely, that the
Hoover-Laval conference could not
touch on the political questions OF Eu-
rope specifically and that all that
might be done would be a general
declaration to assure peace by strength
ening the interpretations of the KEEL
lcgg- BRAND treaty. What Mr.. Borah
has said undoubtedly reflects a general
feeling in official quarters in Washing
ton. including the State Department
that as long as such troublesome ques-
tions as the Polish corridor remain un-
solved. Europe will continue in a state
of unrest.
Formula May Be Devised.
A formula for handling the contro-
versial questions arising out of the
Versailles treaty may some day be de-
vised by Europe, but as for America
it cannot be tackled in a three or four
day conference or at any other con-
ference because these are regarded as
strictly European questions. 1t is
recognized their settlement has a great ;
international importance, but Mr.. Hoo
yer probably would concur If he could
publicly do so without being misunder-
stood. for the United States would like
to urge the peaceful solution of Euro |
pean disputes by pacific means. but |
cannot itself be umpire or arbiter or
even mediator.
So Mr.. Borah performed a service |
to international understanding by
frankly showing what the United States |
could or could not do and he signifi- |
cantly held cut the hope that If Europe |
puts its house in order even the mooted |
reduction of war debts might be ar |
ranged on a basis satisfactory to |
France as well as America.
(Copyrisht, 1917