Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-24
BOrah's Thunder Rumbles
Laval Advises Writers Not to Be Disturbed by
'Words of Senator Which Represent Only
His Personal Opinions"


and of disarmament was the modifica-
ton of the Versailles treaty, made to
French newspaper correspondents yes
terday afternoon, came like a clap OF
thunder as the President and Premier
Laval of France were beginning their
conferences at the White House, seek
ing an avenue of cooperation between
the United States and France to meet
the world economic crisis.
A peppery statement issued by M.
Laval when he was informed of the
interview with the chairman Of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
did not help matters. This statement,
obtained from M. Laval at the White
House, was as follows:
Il have not come to Washington to
engage in polemics with Senator Borah
or to discuss the revision of the YER
sailles treaty. Tell the journalists not
to be disturbed by the words Of Sena-
tor which represent only his personal
opinion"
Effect Is PrOblematicaI.
What would be the ultimate effect
of the Borah interview was prob
lematical. The Versailles treaty has
been sacred in the eyes OF the French
since the close of the war. Admittedly
some of the French visitors were pleased
by what Senator Borah had to say
about the justice of Germans paying
for damages done by her armies in
the devastated area of France and Bel
GUM. But his firm declination to ap-
prove any kind of an international
security pact while at the same time
approving disarmament was another
matter.
Senator Borah declared in his in
terview with the French press. which
was taken down geographically, and
to which American correspondents also
we're admitted. that there could be no
hope of disarmament until the YER
sailles treaty had been modified.
He advocated the wiping out of Ger
man reparations and the cancellation of
all war debts as a corollary of the
elimination Of reparationS.
Speaks for Himself.
Senator Borah was asked at the out
set of his interview whether he would
give an accurate idea of the sentiment
of the Senate with regard to "a guar
antee Of intervention" in the event that
France or any other nation should be
attacked
Declaring that he did not wish to
speak for the Senate, Senator Borah
replied;
Personally am not favorable to
any intervention of any kind. under
any circumstances. Whether that rep
resents the views of the Senate or not
I could not say"
With regard to disarmament by con-
tinental countries, including France,
Senator Borah was asked whether
France might not be running into dan
ger If she disarmed.
"Of course" said Senator Borah, at
RI loft al
how far she can afford to disarm, and
I shall rot find fault with her judg-
ment. My opinion is that there is not
going to be any disarmament by Europe
until things are changed considerably"
He added that he thought changes
would take place.
Orient Troubles Ominous.
Senator Borah said that he hoped
something might be done for disarm-
ament at Geneva in February, but he
added: II do not think it looks very
bright. The Oriental situation is rather
omlnous, think, for a disarmament
conference"
The Idaho Senator was asked what
changes would have to be made before
there can be disarmament
ITO begin with" replied Senator
Borah. II think there will have to be
some changes in the Versailles treaty.
II do not think you are going to get
any disarmament in Europe so long as
certain conditions which arise out of
the Versailles treaty continue to exist.
That Is just my opinion 5000 miles
away"
Senator Borah said there would have
to be a revision of frontiers and men
toned the Polish corridor.
And there is Hungary" he continued.
"She is divided into five parts. and so
long as she is divided that way they
will keep their division by force of arms.
You cannot expect Jugoslavia and
Czechoslovakia and Rumania to disarm
while part of the territory which they
have is in dispute"
In reply to a question that struc-
ture of mutual assistance Of various
nations in case of aggression as pos
sible first step to disarmament, Senator
Borah said:s
"A structure of that kind simply
means mailing down more substantially
and completely the Versailles tre1t~,.
That means making eternal the status
quo"
1t was suggested to Senator Borah
that the League might revise the treaty
of Versailles itself. He pointed out that
the League could not modify the treaty
without the consent of the respective
member nations and said:
IT think yoU will all agree with me
that the nations in Europe are not pre-
pared now to make any modification"
"Teeth" in Treaty Discussed.
Senator Borah was asked If something
might be accomplished by putting teeth
in the Kellogg treaty renouncing war
You people had plenty of teeth the
other day in the covenant of the
League" said Senator Borah, but you
did not dare to show your teeth with
reference to Japan. This question of
using force as a peace proposition has
never appealed to me at all. If we have
not reached the stage where nations are
willing to reason out disputes-to meet
and discuss in peaceful way and settle
their controversies in a peaceful way
we have not reached the time when we
may expect disarmament"
Senator Borah was asked what would
happen If economic pressure was ex-
erted in case Of violation Of the KEEL
logg pact.
It think economic pressure in these
war, It inevitably leads to war"
think it would stop war.
IF some helpless nation were in
volved I can imagine you could put on
economic pressure which would bring
1t to time overnight" said Senator
Borah. You might even put on finan-
cial pressure, which has been done at
times. and bring it to time. But take
the leading nations, like the United
States, or France or Great Britain or
Japan, and economic pressure would
mean war"