The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-02-05
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Senate Votes u. S. Into the
! World Court, but With
Strong Reservations.
hy EDWARD W. p1cKARp


pr A vote of 70 to II the senate has
- decided that the United States
shall adhere to the permanent court
of international justice, better known
as the world court. Thus the long
fight over this question has come to
an end and the administration forces
have trfumphed with the assistance Of
all bat three of the Democratic sena-
tors. However, it is modified VIC
tory for the proponents Of the world
court, for Americas entry is SO
hedged about with reservations that It
may be many months or even years
before it actually is member, and
there is no certainty that it will ever
be party to case before the tri-
bunai.
In the first place, 1t is provided that
all other member nations must accept
the American reservations, and the
process Of obtaining these acceptances
may be long one. Refusal by any
one nation, no matter how insignifi-
cant, invalidates the senate action.
Then-and this is especially important
One of the reservations provides
that recourse to the court for the set
Element Of difficulties between the
United States and any other state can
be had only by agreement through a
treaty between the parties in dispute
Since every treaty is subject to SEN
ate approval, this means that no cause
involving the United States can be
submitted to the court without the ap-
prevail Of the senate by a two-thirds
vote.
Five other reservations were adopt
ed almost unanimously by the senate,
as follows: E4
That adherence to the world court
shall not be taken to involve any le-
gal relation on the part of the United
States to the League of Nations or the
assumption Of any obligations by the
United States under the treaty of
Versailles"
Permitting the United States to par
ticipate in the council and assembly
of the League Of Nations equally with
all other nations in the election Of
judges of the world court.
That the United States should pay
a fair share Of the world courts ex-
penses by congressional appropriation.
That the United States may at any
time withdraw from the world court
and that the statute of the court shall
not be amended without the consent
of the United States.
That the court shall render no ad-
visory opinion, except publicly and
after due notice to all states adhering
to the court and after opportunity for
hearing any state concerned, and that
the court shall not, without the con-
sent of the United States, entertain
any request for any advisory opinion
touching any dispute or question in
which the United States has or claims
an interest.
These reservations were put In their
final shape by Democratic leaders and
John Bassett Moore, the present
American Judge In the. world court.
All others which were offered by op-
ponents of the resolution were reject
ed.
1t is worth while recording the
names of those who voted against the
resolution on the final ballot. They
were: Republicans: Borah, Brook
hart, Fernald, Frazier, -Harreld, John
son, La Toilette. Moses. Nye, Pine,
Robinson (Ind.), Schall, Watson and
williams. Democrats: Blease, Reed
(Mo.). Farmer-Labor: Shipstead
Just before the final vote was taken
Senator johnson of California had a
last word to say, dramatic warning
to his colleagues that they were TAX
ing the first step into the League OF
Nations. altering the traditional poll
cies of the United States. and "cutting
loose to sail on an uncharted sea-"
Senator Borah, leader of the oppo-
sition to the world court, declares the
fight has only begun and that he and
his associates intend to launch a
movement at once to get the country
out of the court and will make this an
issue in the election of senators next