Evening star., 1926-03-24
COOLIDGE AVOIDING
LEAGUE ARGUMENT
Refusal to Explain" Stand
at Geneva Held Sop to
Irrec0nciIabIeS.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

There Is far more than appears on
the surface in the announcement
from the White House that President
Coolidge sees no reason for sending
a special envoy to Geneva to inter-
pret the reservations attached by
the United States Senate to the pro-
tocol proposing American adherence
to the World Court.
Mr.. Coolidge has noted the way
faces made by the "irreconcilab.e'
group about the possibility Of giving
formal recognition to the League of
Nations as the parent Of the World
Court and has decided to make con-
cessions to the aforesaid "irreconcil-
ables."
Would Avoid Petition"
When the reservations were at.
tached 1t was specifically indicated
that acceptance must be arranged by
the exchange of diplomatic notes
with the various nations now sigma
tories to the protocol. Secretary
Kellogg set about getting the accept
ances by addressing forty.eight ma
tons. The move of Austen Chamber
lain, British foreign minister, In ask.
ing that an American envoy come to
the September meeting Of the League
OF Nations to explain" the reserva-
tons was regarded here as meaning
that the United States would confer
formally with the League of Nations
and In a sense petition the league
Tor permission to enter the court.
| This procedure now has been vetoed
by the President, who realizes that
most OF the argument made about the
separation of the World Court from
the league would be revived II the
United States sent an envoy to dis
cuss the matter at Geneva.
Mr.. Coolidge is careful not to say
the United States is retreating from
her desire to enter the World Court.
Nor is he fntimating as yet that IL
the reservations are not accepted by
tho other Nations the United States
will stay out OF the court But for all
practical purposes that Is the exact
situation. The United States Senate
after protracted debate. has specified
certain reservations. Some Of these
Will be awkward for other nations to
accept. but they contain the price OF
American adherence. In other words
| II the other powers want the United
States in the court, the conditions
! under which America will enter are
set forth in the reservations.
Chamberlain's Meaning Unknown.
What the British foreign ministe,
| intended by his suggestion that ar
| American envoy interpret the reser
vations is not yet known even te
| President Coolidge. who IL willing L
| listen to any argument that may bt
| made for the procedure. No American
| envoy can make an official interpre
| tation. He might answer question:
unofficially and informally. but II !.
| not supposed this would satisfy thu
other governments.
! Meanwhile it Is confidently expected
| that between now and September tht
| British government, taking the ini
| tiative, will address q diplomatic note
| to the United States that certain
| points be cleared up.
! The Department Of State Is In {
position to answer questions. but no.
| to interpret antiquities. Some OF the
l questions that undoubtedly will b.
| asked relate to those reservations
| which tie the hands OF the American
| Government, but which do not at tht
| same time restrict the freedom o
| action Of other governments. TIL
answers given by the American Gov
ernment may or may not be explici
or satisfactory, in which event tn
| British and other governments will
do their own interpreting OF the Amer
lean reservations and state what thef
understanding is to be.
Should the Sc understandings or nev
set Of reservations conflict with thu
American Government view, 1t ma.
mean holding up American entry. bu
the chances are the RI Servations at
| tached by other powers will be con
| fined to q simple statement tha
nothing in the American ress rvation
is to be considered as infringing OF
the freedom Of action Of other power
in their dealings either with th'
| World Court or the League Of Ma
| tions. But at best the process viii
be long drawn out and It will be 1
| long time before the United State
officially takes its place in the Worit
| Court.
fCopyright. 1926l