Evening star., 1926-03-21
SENATORS APPROVE
u. S. COURT STAND
Lenroot and Walsh See No
Objection to Review of
Reservations.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.


The State Departments assertion
that the United States Government
has no objection to the proposed con-
ference of member nations OF the
World Court to consider reservations
adopted by the Senate and upon
which the adherence of the United
States to the court is condltloneo,
was received with approval yester-
day afternoon by Senator Lenroot OF
Wisconsin, who handled the fight for
the administration for the World
Court on the floor of the Senate, ana
by Senator Walsh of Montana, VINO
had a leading part in the Senate hSht
for the court.
Like the State Department. SEN
ator Lenroot insisted that there Is
not the slightest chance OF the
United States becoming involved IN
the affairs of the League of Nations
through this course. The conference
of member nations of the Noriu
Court to consider the reservations oI
the United States could not be termed
a League conference" he declared.
While the State Department mace
II clear that it saw no objections 10
the conference of the member natloiis
on the American reservations the
question of American participation III
such conference Is still another mat
ter. ii was said.
l.. s. Representation in doubt
I-pon the character of the invita-
ton extended and purpose OF the CON
ference would depend an acceptance
of an invitation to send an American
representative to the round table AZ
Geneva. the department Indicated
There is no authority existing to send
a representative to amend, modify or
interpret the reservations. and II the
attendance of an American represent
alive is asked with any such purpose
in mind it does not appear that TINS
Government would accept the invita-
ton.
Senator Lenroot said that he be-
lieyed the attitude of the department
now made public. with regard to the
World Court conference on the Amer
lean reservations woud do mucn 10
clear the atmosphere and make the
country realize that the question OF
American adherence to the court was
exactly where it has always been and
that the League of Nations had moth
ing whatever to do with 1t. The
reservations, Senator Lenroot said,
will be considered by the nations now
members of the court. as members
of that court and not as members OF
the League of Nations.
Should Expedite L. S. Entry.
In the opinion of Senator Walsh the
consideration of the reservations by
the September conference of court
members at Geneva should greatly eX
pedite the entry of this country into
the World Court. He pointed out
how much easier it would be for the
4S members. gathered about the con-
ference table. with representative
of the United States, to come to an
early decision.
1t was made clear by the State De-
partment that the reservations must
stand as they were adopted by the
Senate and must be accepted in that
form or the signature of the United
States to the protocol may not be
affixed, which is necessary before this
country joins formally the World
Court.
In this view of the situation Sena-
tor Lenroot concurred. He said there
was no chance of the court question
being thrown back into the Senate in
his opinion.
The supporters of the World Court
insist that the opponents of the court
will not be able to make capital of the
action taken by the League of Nations
council last Thursday in initiating the
September conference of World Court
nations to consider the American
reservations. Assertions by court op-
ponents that this is a demonstration
of the fact that the United States is
entering merely the League court"
cannot be substantiated, the pro-court
Senators said.
Opposition to Continue.
The opponents of the court. how
ever. will 1t is said. continue their
fight to get the United States out of
the World Court-provided it finally
becomes a member Of that tribunal.
Not few of the court opponents be-
lieve that the other members of the
World Court will not all accept the
Senate reservations. They are pin
ming their hopes largely to the thought
that failure to accept the reservations
will keep the country from ever join
ing the court. They consider the res
ervation dealing with advisory opin-
ions. for example, SO drastic that
other members of the court will not
be able to accept it.
1t was made entirely clear at the
State Department yesterday that this
Government does not believe there
can be any valid objection to concert
ed action by the member nations on
the American reservations to the
World Court adherence. 1t is imma-
terial to this country, it was said at
the department, whether each men,
ber nation acts separately on these
reservations or acts after consulta-
rion with the other members. The
thing to be born in mind is that all
the members must agree to the reser.
vations and must SO notify the United
States in writing to this effect before
the United States enters the court as
u member.
The State Department, it was said.
does not understand that the League
of Nations claims any power OF juris-
diction to pass upon reservations re-
lating to the World Court, or that it
attempted to do so through the
league council at Geneva last week.