WORLD PEACE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIV, Issue XLIV, 23 January 1924, Page 5

WORLD PEACE

THE BOX PLAN

AN UNSATISFACTORY POSITION

91 OABM-PSESB A.BBOOUTIOK-COPYaiOB!r WASHINGTON, Jan. 21. The Senate investigation into the Bok peace award was brought to a halt abruptly when Mr Bok refused to tell the committee the amount of the fund established to advertise th© plan. Mr Bok admitted that he paid every penny of the costs of the award, but refused > to divulge the amountj saying: "This is my business. It is my affair pure and simple. Then ensued half an hour's persistent questioning without avail.

Senator Caraway told Mr Bok people would suspect something was wrong about the offer.

Mr Bok replied: "There is nothing to hide. I am footing the bill. I will tell you frankly the source of the money: it comes from me, and I am perfectly willing to trust the American people's opinion of me." Senator Caraway thereupon rejoined: *'I am rather persuaded you have hurt your cause." Mr Bok answered: "I cannot so© your way. I cannot see how the amount would satisfy anything except curiosity." Senator Reed attacked the literature of the award, declaring it was largely propaganda. '•What is your definition of propaganda?" asked Mr Bok, to which Senator Reed replied: "If you don't know you ought not to be undertaking to regulate the affairs of the world." fhe committee thereupon adjourned to consider means of forcing Mr Bok to answer.

The Box peace award was a prize given by Mr Bok, a prominent American journalist, for the best scheme for producing world peace, with sneeial reference to the part the United States should play. The winning plan advocated American participation in the League of Nations, and all the bitterness of the League controversy has been revived.