Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-17
Asks for Ratification of
Protocol Without Further
Reservations.
DECLARES OPPONENTS
ARE CHASING SHADOWS
Tribunal Absolutely Distinct From
League of Nations, Vir-
ginian Declares.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

With galleries packed 10 their ut
most capacity. the Senate today be
gan consideration of the proposal 10
have the United states adhere to the
World Court.
The Swanson resolution. providing
for the ratification of the World Court
protocol, with the Harding Hughes
Coolidge reservations. was before the
Senate and its author, Senator Swan
son of Virginia, ranking Democrat of
the foreign relations committee. opened
the debate in favor OF ratification.
Supporters of the court proposal es-
innate that If 4 vote we're taken more
than the necessary two-thirds for rati-
ication would be forthcoming.
But determined opposition though
small In numbers hopes 10 arouse
public opinion and the Senate against
the court during the debate. Taking
advantage OF the unlimited debate
which prevails in the Senate and OF
the necessity of enacting tax reduction
and other important legislation in the
near future, the opposition plans to
stave off a vote for some time to come.
Women predominated in the gal
leries. Some of them arrived as early
as o'clock this morning to be sure
Of seats. A quarter Of an hour be
fore the session opened there were
still vacant seats In the mems gal
Iery, although lines had formed in the
corridors outside the women's gal
lery and the special card gallery.
Delegations of women from Pennsyl-
vania. New York. Illinois and Mary
land were on hand to give their moral
support to the court proposal and to
urge Senators TO support 1t. There
was q sprinkling Of diplomats In the
gallery reserved for the diplomatic
corps. Before the Senate session be-
gan the women and men in the gal
Ieries were warned by the doorkeepers
not to disturb the Senate proceedings
by applause.
Immediately after the prayer was
offered the Vice President. in accord
ance with special order OF business,
laid before the Senate the Swanson
resolution for adhesion to the World
Court.
Reasons for Adherence.
In q carefully prepared address.
Senator Swanson set forth the
reasons why the United States should
adhere to the court without further
delay.
lie emphasized the independence OF
the World Court and denied that 1t
could be rightfully considered a crea-
tllre of the League of Nations as
charged by the opposition.
He laid stress upon the vital need
Of such a tribunal to avert future
world wars, and declared the interest
Of the United States in international
peace was greatest because 1t had the
most to lose in the event Of war.
He gave in detail the accomplish
ments of the World Court since 1t be-
gan to function. covered by some
seventeen opinions and judgments IN
volving many nations.
And finally he declared that II was a
question of this World Court or none:
that the opponents of the court In this
country, who would set up q court
which was merely American. were
chasing u -o'-the-Wisp.
Borah to Speak Tomorrow.
The World Court will continue to be
subject Of debate in the Senate until
the Christmas holidays begin Decem-
ber 90, and the debate will be resumed
when the Senate meets again Jan
uary A. Senator Lenroot of Wiscon-
sin, who will have charge of the pro
tocol and resolution In the Senate,
Will keep them as constantly before
the Senate as possible Senator Bo-
rah Of Idaho. chairman of the foreign
relations committee. leader OF the op-
position. plans to speak on the court
proposal tomorrow.
While asserting the independence
of the World Court from the League
of Nations. Senator Swanson de-
clared his own personal admiration
Tor the league and eulogized the work
If IN ha Mt Of
peace. He said. how
ever, that the United States had de-
clined to enter the league. and that
issue was not now before the Senate
Need Of Court.
Never before In the history of the
world" said Senator Swanson, has
1t become more paramount that means
should be devised by which interna-
tional differences should be settled
amicably without resort to force.
Those who ardently desire peace
should cease contentious among
themselves as to the plans and cease
severe criticism Of those engaged In
the work and try to obtain some
common plan upon which they can
reasonably unite.
The existing World Court is the
tIloll ol 4o HdtlonS 10 accomplish
this. 1t is the first court that ever
has been organized word wide in it's
scope and In its aspirations. The
question is submitted to us to deter
mine whether we shall be one of the
nations aiding the peace and prog
'ess OF the world by adhering to this
court, and thus give it our moral
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