The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-05-28
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

TINE United States government,
which started out to get an anti
war treaty, has now decided that a
half loaf is better than none.
A new note is being prepared by
the State Department, attempting
to reconcile the original American
proposal and all the reservations
made by France, Great Britain and
the Dominions, Germany, Italy and
Japan.
The first Kellogg plan aimed, IN
words at least, completely to out
law" war as a national policy. 1t
now is clear, en- the basis of the
foreign replies, that the only treaty
to which the powers are prepared
to agree at this time is one which
makes little, if any, change in the
status quo.
The only remaining question
seems to be whether the limiting
reservations are to be written in the
body or preamble of the proposed
treaty, or are to be given effect
through some other diplomatic
method, such as an exchange of
notes, experimenting and inter-
preting the treaty text.
Washington diplomats and those
Of most other powers prefer that
the reservations not obtrude them
selves in the treaty itself.
n n
THESE reservations turn on
l. three different issues, including
the right to wage defensive war,
the right to apply sanctions under
the League of Nations-Locarno Eu-
ropean security systems, and the
right Of powers to protect" certain
spheres of influence.
In reply to hostile unofficial
comment deploring the
of other powers, it is
stated abroad that the State de
partment never intended to go as
far as a literal Interpretation of the
text of its anti-war plan seemed to
The United States naval program
is sufficient proof that it had no
intention of renouncing so-called
defensive war, and the present Ma
rine occupation of Nicaragua and
Haiti is proof that this Government
will fight to defend its claimed spe-
cial interests in the Monroe doc
trine area, it is said abroad.
Although Secretary of State KEEL
logg made no exception for defen-
sive war in his original proposal,
and specifically declined to accept
the French amendment to that eff
feet, he later made a speech in
which he said the right of national
defense is inalienable and is not to
be touched by his anti-war treaty.
This later Kellogg Interpretation
chiefly was responsible for Great
Britain'S acceptance of the plan in
principle.
ENEMIES of the plan and of the
u Kellogg method say that all
nations in going to war claim to be
fighting in f-defense and thus
would suffer no restraint whatever
under the Kellogg treaty.
They add that progress toward
permanent peace is through the
very difficult but necessary attempt
at treaty definition of aggressive"
war, rather than by ignoring this
problem of definition.
The second set of reservations
apply to obligations of the other
powers under the league and the
Locarno systems to act in certain
circumstances against an offending
nation.
None of the European Govern
ments is willing to throw over the
machinery which they have de-
veloped, however inadequate it may
be, in favor of a binding anti-war
treaty. The United States, with the
natural protection of two ocean
barriers, is not directly in need of
such security pacts or of their per-
petuation.
But the State department tends
to take the position that the Euro
pean nations, being bound already by
the systems, and further interna-
tional agreements must of necessity
make room for such regional ar
rangements.
The thifd reservation, raised
formally by Great Britain, con-
Germs the right of a power to pro-
tect underlined regions which that
power considers necessary to it's own
ultimate safety.
The British note pointed out that
the United States itself asserts sucn
a right, that is, under the Monroe
Doctrine.
AS an opposition group in England
states, the net effect of the anti
war treaty and its supplemental
reservations therefore may be to
extend and sanctify "NIonroeism" as
nm accepted international system.
MYTH his veto of McNary-
w Haugen farm relief bill al
ready creating a major political IS
sue on the eve of the Republican
President Coolidge to-
day studied the Norris Muscle Shoals
bill for Government power opera
ton, to which he has objected.
Because of the long and success
full fight which has brought the bill
to the White House, and because of
the Federal trade commission reve-
iations of power trust" lobbying
and school propaganda activities,