Evening star., 1925-11-30

Democratic Senators to vote for, or
vice versa.
An able tactician and master of
strategy in contests in the Senate,
Senator Borah presents the most seri-
Gus obstacle at present to those who
support adherence to the World Court.
Senator Borahs hope is to arouse the
American people against the plan to
have this country join the court. The
longer he can delay n vote, the more
the question can be debated, the bet
ter the chance of the opponents of the
court. in the opinion of the opponents.
The friends OF the court proposal, on
the other hand would insist that the
greater the light shed on the Whole
matter The greater the strength of
their cause. But they want action
without further delay.
In their letter to Senator Borah
these petitioners. who include Presi-
dent Hlbben of Princeton University,
President Angel of Yale. Presi-
dent Garfield If Amherst, Cyrus II.
Mccormick, Gov. Hunt of Idaho, Carrie
Chapman Gait and many other widely
known men and women. call atten-
ton to the fact that the Republican
platform upon which President Cool
idge was elected by an overwhelming
vote last year declares for adhesion
by the United States 10 the World
Court. The opponents of tae entry of
this country into the court may reply
that the Democratic platform also
urges the adhesion to the World Court
and that the matter was really not an
issue in the campaign and was dis
cussed practically not at all.
There does appear, however. to be
L measure of right and reason on the
side of those who call for a ClcarCut
issue in the Senate. vote on the
protocol with the reservations support
ed by the administration, to which
many of the Democrats have already
aCceded. Either two-thirds of the Sen
ators are in favor Of having the United
States Join in the present World
are not. The country is entitled to
have the matter decided.
Representative George Holden Tink
ham Of Massachusetts has come for
ward with proposal for a third
Hague conference, 10 he called by the
President OF the United States. for the
specific purpose Of devising and estab-
fishing a Permanent Court OF Inter
national Justice representing directly
the sovereign nations" He slaps at
the present World Court as a creature
Of the League Of Nations. and insists
that the United States cannot adhere
TO it without becoming involved in the
affairs Of the league. He sees the
Monroe Doctrine vanishing into thin
air if this country joins the present
court. He does not make it quite
clear. however, that the Monroe Doc
trine would be any safer under any
other court of international justice to
which this country might adhere
Mr.. Tinkham's = proposal furnishes
another method Of indirect attack on
the plan 10 have this country take its
place in the existing World Court
President Coolidge and his advisers,
looking at the practical as we'll as the
ideal side Of the problem, have re
ferred to the fact that the nations al
ready have set up Permanent Court
Of international Justice, and that
with the reservations now proposed
the United States can enter this court
without relinquishing any degree of
independence and without becoming
involved in the league. On December
Il the Senate is scheduled to begin
its long-deferred consideration Of the
World Court protocol. 1t should be
brought to a definite and final dis.
position.