MONROE DOCTRINE

Southland Times, Issue 19456, 21 January 1925, Page 5

MONROE DOCTRINE

SENATOR BORAH’S ANNOUNCEMENT. PARIS AGREEMENT DANGEROUS. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright). WASHINGTON, January 19. The biggest political sensation for many a day developed with the announcement that Senator Borah (Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee) is breaking with the Administration regarding the financial agreement which was signed in Paris last week. “It is a dangerous step and one which may entangle America in Europe, and make this Government morally, if not legally, responsible as a partner of the Allied Powers in enforcing the Reparations payments against Germany,” said Senator Borah in reviewing the situation. Senator Borah’s step is reminiscent of the late Senator Lodge’s revolt against President Wilson, which nullified the League of Nations proposal, so far as America was concerned. Senator Borah’s influence has grown greatly since he succeeded Senator Lodge, and he has been quite frank in declaring an opposition policy towards the Soviet.

There are many signs that Senator Borah’s revolt will embarrass the Administration.

Mr George Harvey, formelv Ambassador to Britain, writing in the Sunday Pictorial, asserts trat the Paris agreement is atrocious, and he states that America is waiving her independence in regard to European affairs. If Germany defaults and the Allies attempt to collect by force then America is in for it.

The White House spokesman has already denied that any new obligation exists, and insists that America undertakes no new responsibilities. In order to prevent Senator Borah and his party in the Senate from doing to the Paris agreement what Senator Lodge did to the League of Nations Protocol, Mr C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State) has issued an official statement denying the Senate’s jurisdiction. This means that the Administration is trying to nip the Borah insurrection before it gets impetus. Mr Hughes subsequently issued a formal statement asserting that “the agreement reached at the Paris Conference of the Al lied Finance Ministers imposes no obligation, legally or morally, on the United States and this country remains as free from commitments in European matters as it ever was.