Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-03
Senatorial Sentiment on
The International Court

Nv YHILE there is no probability of the
w senats's ratifyins, at this session, the
Presidents recommendation that
America join the Court Of International
Justice, it is generally believed that If the
proposal now were brought to a vote it
would win the needful two-thirds majority.
This is highly significant. Two years ago
Mr.. Harding would have ventured no such
departure from the policy of isolation; or
if he had, his party in the Senate would
have hailed him vehemently back. Time,
the great teacher, makes Roadway at length
with even the most unwilling of pupils.
Outspoken Endorsement of the Presidents
new move comes, Interestingly enough, from
Democratic leaders. Senator Swanson, of
Virginia, who will become senior Demo-
cratic member of the committee on foreign
relations in the next Congress, declares:
"I hope that the President will insist
vigorously on the policy he has outlined
and not be dismayed by the opposition of
those opposed to the League of Nations and
its recognition in any form, however ben
eficia1 its work may be- Senator Walsh,
the part of the Administration of it's
abandonment in some degree of the policy
of aloofness which has proved so unfor-
tunate for our country and for the world"
Senator King, Of Utah, takes the first step
to carry the Presidents proposal into eff
feet, offering a resolution Of approval.
Even so inveterate a critic of the Admin
istration as Senator Harrison, of Missis-
sippi, is for "discharging the committee
on foreign relations unless it acts on this
matter Immediately"
But while all thirty-seven Democrats of
the Senate, with a possible exception of
four five, are reported as favorable,
many Republican Senators are either reti-
of California, wakes facetious in his heavy
way; and the other Irreconciables are
counted against the Court because of it's
having been established by the League of
Nations. Dominating the committee on for
eign relations, to which the matter has
been referred, they can easily prevent &C
ton in the few remaining days of the pres
ent Congress. Yet, according to Washing
toms most competent observers, enough
votes could be mustered among the fifty
nine Republicans to ratify the proposal (the
Democrats aiding) if it could be brought
publicans would support the President
merely out of a sense of loyalty, dubious
though they might be regarding the polit-
zeal aspects of the issue. But the majority,
it is belieged, excepting of course the r.
reconcilables, would deem it expedient, if
now confronted with a yea or nay choice,
to vote for American membership in the
permanent Court of International Justice
So at least does the Administration evil
IDENTIFY reckon in broaching an issue which
heretofore it has sedulously avoided
Herein lies the most meaningful strategy
of the situation. 1t has taken many signs
and wonders to convince certain political
leaders that the ills accruing to America
from the policy of isolation are not only
real but also are being perceived and keen
ly felt as such by the people. Acknowl-
edgment of facts is frequently painful to
pride, but it is always wholesome and wise.
There should be general rejoicing, then,
that the Administration has come to the
point of recognizing the necessity of in
ternational co-working in the great prob
lens of peace and reconstruction, and of
recognizing the merit of a Court of Inter-
national Justice, even though brought into
being through the League of Nations
Moreover, in the next session of Congress