Evening star., 1926-01-18
Indications of FiIibuster Will
Bring Drive for Two
Thirds Rule.
AMPLE TIME FOR DEBATE
TO BE GIVEN, HOWEVER
Proponents of U. s. Membership to
Seek Limitation Only When De-
lay Motivates Arguments.
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

World Court, ii Will have il, was
The somewhat cryptic comment of
pro-court leader today. discussing the
present agitation to invoke the two
thirds cloture rule on the resolution
for ratification of the protocol
The supporters of the court are
husily engaged today in trying to find
out IF the Senate wants cloture," or.
in other words, whether they can
command the necessary twothirds
vote to make cloture effective if they
try it out.
The prospects are that the debate
will be permitted TO run along for an
other day or two. to see If there are
further evidences of an attempt to fill
buster.
There is no disposition to cut off
legitimate debate" declared Senator
Walsh of Montana, Democrat. one of
the active supporters OF the court.
Tax Report Due Tomorrow
Should there be evidences, however
that the debate is intended merely for
the purpose of delay, the efforts for
cloture will follow. il was intimated
even IL they should fail. Opponents of
the court will be expected to bear the
burden of the debate from now on
Senator Johnson of California and
Senator Reed of Missouri were expect
ed to take part in the diCussion today.
The tax bill. upon which opponents
of the court are banking to sidetrack
the court for at least several weeks
to come, will be reported to the Sen
ate tomorrow. Chairman Smoot of the
finance committee said today.
Unless cloture on the court is
adopted, | will have to take up the
tax bill in the Senate within few
days and press for consideration of it.
said Senator Smoot.
The difficulty about obtaining the
proposed cloture lies in the fact that
not all of the Senators counted upon
to vote for the court are willing to
vote for d cloture rule.
Sixteen May Start Move.
Sixteen Senators can initiate the
move to invoke cloture by signing a
petition and submitting it TO the Sen
ate. The presiding officer must at
once submit the motion to the Senate
and one hour after the Senate meets
on the following day but one he must
lay the motion before the Senate. 1t
must then be voted upon without de-
lay. If the motion carries by two
thirds vote, no Senator therea fter
shall be entitled to speak more than
one hour on the World Court and the
amendments thereto.
Supporters of the court figure that
if the cloture rule We're adopted il
would bring a vote after 15 or Is
hours debate.
The cloture rule was invoked in
1919 to obtain a vote on the Versailles
treaty and the League Of Nations cove
nant. Sixteen Senators then voted in
opposition to cloture.
Taken Up December Il.
The World Court was taken up in
the Senate for consideration December
II, carrying out a special order adopt
ed by the Senate last March. With
allowance made for the Christmas re
cess. the court proposal has been be
fore the Senate for about three weeks.
Part Of this time was given over to
considera ton Of the case of Senator
Nye of North Dakota. Pro-Court Sen
atOrs insist that they have been len
lent in the matter of allowing time for
discussion of the court proposal. From
now on, however. they will insist that
the court be kept before the Senate,
at least until the tax bill is taken up
or until cloture is invoked.
AS soon as the Senate assembled to-
court protocol, moved an open execu
tive session for its consideration, which
was adopted.
Senator Harrison of Mississippi took
the floor to criticize the Republican
tariff, but first said he would not oc-
cupy the attention of the Senate if any
Senator wished to speak on the court
No Senator took advantage of his
offer.
Il
his remarks, Senator Borah of Idaho
took the floor in opposition to the
World Court.
BOrah Answers Argument.
Senator Borah attacked the argu-
ment made by supporters of the court.
who have said that the World Court
has itself determined not to grant
advisory opinion to the League of Ma
tions if one of the parties involved
shall not be willing to such an opinion
given.
He addressed himself particularly to
the eastern Corelia case, involving
Finland and Russia. Russia is not
member of the league or of the court
and declined to submit the case. The
court, by vote of : to 4, determined
not 10 grant the advisory opinion ask
ed of 1t.
The Idaho Senator pointed out that
by a shift of only two votes the court
might in the future reverse itself
on such matter, and determine to
give to the league an advisory opinion,
even If the United States should OBJ
ject. He called attention to the fact
too, that the opinion had been strongly
voiced by members Of the council of
the league that the court should give
advisory opinions asked by the league,
even though neither party to the case
consented to have it 90 so.
This, Senator Borah insisted WAS
the position of the League of Nations
with regard to the league court"
Opponents Get Together.
Opponents of the World Court gath
cred yesterday afternoon in the Of
flee of Senator Borah, chairman of the
foreign relations committee, to discuss
further their plans for preventing a
vote on the resolution of ratification.
The suggestion that the pro-court
Senators would attempt to invoke the
cloture rule this week to bring about
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