National Affairs: Treaty Maltreated

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Senator Bingham also asked whether, under the treaty, the U. S. could have sent an expedition into Mexico under General Pershing.

"I would not say as to any particular transaction," replied Senator Borah, "but ... we would have a perfect right to send an expedition anywhere, whether into Mexico or China ... to protect the lives and property of our citizens against actual threatened attack."

When Minnesota's Shipstead asked how the Kellogg treaty could have prevented the World War, Senator Borah answered that he did not know how it could have. In effect, he fell back on the moral and educational aspects of the treaty, said that in so far as the treaty's failure to control "self-defensive" wars might be a "weakness," such a "weakness" was "inherent in human nature."

Monroe Doctrine. Opponents of the treaty wish to incorporate in it a specific statement that the Monroe Doctrine is not affected by the agreement. Senator Borah said that the Monroe Doctrine was included in the right of self-defense. Senator Johnson said that if the treaty did not affect the Monroe Doctrine, what harm would there be in putting in a definite statement that the Monroe Doctrine was not involved? Senator Borah weasled.