William Borah, Speech in United States Senate, December
6, 1918.
The
first proposition connected with the proposed league is that of a tribunal to
settle the matters of controversy which may arise between the different
nations.
Will
anyone advocate that those matters which are of vital importance to our people
shall be submitted to a tribunal created other than by our own people and give
it an international army subject to its direction and control to enforce its
decrees? I doubt if anyone will advocate that.... If you do not do so, Mr.
President, what will your league amount to? . . .
In
its last analysis the proposition is force to destroy force, conflict to
prevent conflict, militarism to destroy militarism, war to prevent war. In its
last analysis it must be that if it has any sanction behind- its judgment at
all. There is where the difficulty lies ....