The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-03

TALK IS HALTED


sion ENDS, Wnen the Iull conference
will begin the second reading of the
reservations.
NJ. Rolin, representing Belgium,
made definite proposition for
amending the fifth reservation.
II think we could accept the fifth
reservation" he said, IF it were
made to read that the court cannot
render advisory opinions in cases
where the United States claims has
an interest,
That amendment apparently would
permit the cour. to decide whether
q United States claim to interest in
any proposition referred TO the court
for an opinion had any basis in fact.
The discussion, which ended today.
was on the first reading of the
American reservations.
Results Summarized
President Van Eysinga summa-
rized the results Of the conference
to date as follows:
/. 1t had demonstrated the unani.
nous sympathy and desire of the
court signato.ies to accept the reser
vations.
?. 1t was unanimously recognized
that the United States desired equal.
ity and all were disposed to grant
that and some even were willing to
grant a privileged position.
5. The conference was unanimous
in believing the fifth reservation
merely was intended to obtain equal
ity but its drafting permitted a
wider Interpretation which might
have grave influence upon the con-
stitutional rights of both the league
and the court.
Canadian in Attack
Sir George Foster of Canada and
Sir Francis Bell of New Zealand both
attacked the reservations.
In a caustic address, Sir George
Foster demanded that the conference
examine some actual consequences
Of accepting the ffcn reservation
He declared that it could not be
overlooked that the United States.
by legislation, had enacted a manda-
tory act declaring that The Hague
Court should not be deliver and ad-
visory opinion without its consent.
This, he said, the league itself
would not dream of doing Sir
George pictured the situation which
n,.ign >;
accepted.
He said that it must then con-
stantly be borne in mind that when
ever The Hague court was asked
to give an advisory opinion its first
duty would be to ascertain whether
the United States was interested.
What Is the United States?
This information, he emphasized.
was available only from the United
States itself. If the reservation
provided that the President could
determine the matter of interest it
would be a different matter, Sir
George declared. But he pointed out
that the court must get it's answer
not from some designated source, but
from THE United States itself.
Hence, he said it must first be de-
cided what constitutes the United
States in this case.
After the court had received its
statement from the United States
that it was interested. he continued,
the court did not have the right to
decide whether the claim of the
United States was just. He said that
as result of this. the reservation
would mean the utmost delay, which
in certain cases would be fatal. He
declared that the whole experience
Of the league demonstrated the
necessity of quick decision and ac-
ton.
Man to Man
Sir George expressed himself as
willing to go to any extent neces-
sary to assure the United States
equality, even though nations with.
in the league were carrying burdens
and obligations which the United
States did not carry. He said he
was certain that if the United States
found that it had asked more than
equality the quetsion could be dis.
cussed with the United States in
man to man fashion and an adjust.
ment could be reached.
President Van Eysinga announced
that the discussion of the first read
ing OF the American reservations
probably would be ended today and
that a committee would be appointed
to continue the work during the
meeting of the league assembly here
next week.