Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-27
Price of Disarmament.

Senator William L. Borah, chairman
of the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee, in q frank discussion OF the
problem of disarmament, takes q gloomy
view. The great stumbling blocks, from
practical point of view, Mr.. Borah
insists, are the denial Of the right to
revise the post-World War treaties Of
peace, including the Versailles treaty,
and the Russian situation. The peace
treaties, Mr.. Borah asserts. could not
be sustained or maintained except
through sheer military force" He adds:
so long AS all right, through peaceful
methods, " revise the Versailles treaty
Is denied. do not expect to see any
land disarmament la Europe"
Just how the treaty OF Versailles
should be revised the Idaho Senator
does not undertake ~ specify. But he
leaves no doubt that lac is firmly con-
WINGED that the REIMBURSEMENT in Europe,
imposed by the yictors in the World
War upon the vanquished, Is not con-
duciVe to peace. Before these adjust
ments were made, however. the greatest
conflict SO far recorded in the world
burst forth in 1914. 1t Is obvious that
To 20 back 10 the old regime would
probably not get the world very far on
the road to peace and disarmament.
Perhaps, however. there is some middle
ground which. II 1t could be arrived at
through peaceful methods. as Senator
B0rah suggests, might prove stable
ground OH which " base real dis
armament proposal. The difnculty lying
In the path OF such an adjustment Is
the selflshness OF nations and men.
Senator Borah has for long time
taken the position that the attitude OF
the rest Of the world, including the
United States, toward Russia is en-
tlrely wrong. He favors recognition OF
the Russian Soviet government. He
believes that the Russians should be
permitted and aided 10 work out their
in some quarters is looked upon as an
effort 70 place Russia 10 q position
" dominate Europe and to overrun 1t
la war. He advances the argument
ticularly willing " aid Russia in this
program because Of the vast market
Russia affords for American materials
and manufactures and for American
IA. "a ss.. HNz..s laz
Thousand American engineers and in
dustrial managers are in Russia today
aiding in this program, and over $780,
000. 900 Of credit is being extended. with
many OF Americas most wealthy cor
porations doing business with the Rus
slams. In the opinion VI Senator Borah
it Is idle 10 talk Of non-recognition
Vt the Russian government under such
conditions.
The Idaho Senator is 4 devoted adj
herent OF proposals to disarm. But
disarmament cannot take place while
there is no real will for II in the
nations. nor can it take place when
suspicion and fear OF neighboring ma
tons are harbored In the hearts and
minds Of the peoples of Europe, and
indeed Of America. The picture painted
by MI. Boreh OF the present situation
relating 70 ornaments is dark Nearly
30 per cent OF all the budgets Of the
different nations 60 for wars, past or
expected, he points out He might have
pointed out also that even IN the United
States, devoted as it Is 10 peace, out
OF an average annual expenditure vi
81 900 900 600 for governmental pur-
poses, more than 81 500 900 900 go for
, past wars and national defense. leav-
ing $l.500, 000.0 only for the more
peaceful pursuits OF government.
How long, the Senator asks can the
peoples Of the world continue TO bear
up under this mounting burden OF
ornaments? How long can they con-
tinue to meet these expenditures out
Of their toll and sweat while their lead
efs continue 10 prattle OF peace and
do little about it? Senator Borsh has
presented knotty problem. a problem
that the nations Will undertake 10 solve
! at Geneva IN 1882, where in the opinion
OF the Senator there Is little prospect
Of success
R-rAN