Evening star., 1926-09-24
NEW COURT FIGHT
LOOMS IN SENATE
Powers Qualify Acceptance
of Observation-Disclosures
by u. S. Doubted.

BY the Associated Press.
Possibility of another fight in the
United States Senate over American
adhesion to the World Court loomed
today as the result Of the action OF
the delegate advisory conference at
Geneva.
The conference approved the draw
ing up Of a special protocol to trans
late the five American reserva tionS
into the language Of the court and the
covenant Of the League of Nations.
The protocol. which will be forwarded
to Washington. would give court
members the right to withdraw their
approval Of the fourth and fifth reser-
vations in the future.
The protocol. if accepted by the
powers represented by the Geneva
delegates would need approval of the
Senate. it was felt here by observers
who said that President Coolidge
would he without authority to eX-
change iatificatiuns without further
advice and consent of that body. and
that submission Of the supplemental
document probably would reopen the
struggle which has been one Of the
most bitter of the last session of Con-
gress.
Two PrOvisOs Defined.
The fourth reservation prohibits
amendment Of the court statute with
ont the consent of the United States,
and the fifth prevents the court from
accepting requests for advisory opln-
ions of disputes in which the United
States has or claims an interest"
Mt, nylf nf
declined to comment in the absence
of official advices. a feeling was ap-
parent that the entire question "f
American membership had been COM
plicated TO a great extent by me
action of the conference, which wouid
defer indefinitely, if not prevent COM
pletely. participation of the United
States in the work of the court.
The report Of the Geneva confer
ence is merely advisory, and initiative
rests now with the powers represented,
each being free to reply to Washing
ton in whatever fashion it seems best.
In this connection it was recalled
here that leaders of the fight against
American adhesion, notably Senator's
Borah. Republican, Idaho, and Reed,
Democrat, Missouri, have maintained
their opposition, despite the approval
given by the Senate, and 1t was
thought that submission of the sup
elemental protocal might furnish them
another opportunity to conduct an
offensive against adherence.
Other Senator's Positions.
1t also was recalled that Senators
Gooding, Republican, Idaho, and
Trammen. Democrat, Florida. had
issued statements attacking the court
following the adjournment of the last
session. and that the question of
adhesion had figured prominently in
MANY of the Senatorial primary con-
tests this year.
Commenting upon the action Of the
Geneva conference, Senator George
ii. Moses. Republican member of the
foreign relations committee. declared
after "A visit to the White House that
there was little likelihood Of change
being approved in the fifth reserva-
ton.
fresh credentials" because of his pri'
mary victory in a campaign featured
by the court issue, Senator Moses said
that the reservations must stand as
presented to the members of the
League.
Jurist Drew Reservation.
The fifth reservation, he added. had
been drawn by John Rassett Moore.
American jurist on the court, and is
not going to suffer from such chang
ing"
Some interest was manifest here in
the statement Of Sir Francis Bell OF
New Zealand before the Geneva con-
ference that international questions
involving the League of Nations
might arise from the proximity OF
American Samoa and Western Samoa,
over which New Zealand has man.
date. He also expressed the opinion
that the United States might not ac.
cept the clauses of the supplemental
protocol which reserve to the powers
the right to withdraw their accept
ence Of the fourth and fifth American
reservations.