The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-01
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

wv resentative Britten of Illinois
is angry over the attempt to laugh
| out of existence his proposal to
Premier Baldwin for a naval limita-
ton conference between representa-
tives of congress and parliament.
He said today he would 60 on
with his project. He cited annual
meetings of the PARLIAMENTARY
| Union, of which the United States
is member. as evidence that his
conference idea is neither unique
nor unconstitutional. He dismissed
as silly the possibility that he is
violating the Logan act prohibiting
citizens from negotiating with
foreign governments.
And in passing, he sideswiped
those whom he characterized Sar-
castically as "God-chosen diplo-
mats"
Britten, who becomes chairman
of the house naval affairs commit
tee when congress opens Monday, is
especially encouraged by the re-
ception given his proposal by Ger
tain British newspapers.
Officials here, and apparently
most Of the American newspapers
which have commented, are opposed
to the Britten proposal. They crit
icise the plan and it's author for
the following reasons:
/. Such conference would be "uns
| constitutional" because the house
naval committee has no authority
to negotiate with foreign group on
matters relating to government pol
icy. That authority is vested in the
executive, and through the Presi-
dent in his diplomatic representa-
tives and the secretary of state.
2. Under the American form OF
government, the legislative check
upon executive control of foreign
policy is not vested in the house
naval affairs committee, as the
Britten proposal might imply, but
in the senate and through it in the
senate foreign relations committee.
3. There is no analogy between
the interparliamentary union meet
ings and the proposed Britten con-
ference, because the United States
by formal action of congress is a
member of the union, in contrast to
the wholly unofficial and unauthor-
lied origin of the Britten plan.
4. Though there may be virtue in
unofficial conferences of citizens of
two nations, the Britten conference
would be neither unofficial nor Of
fetal, but a confusing cross between.
5. Such a semi-of1cial conference
would increase the difficulties of the
two governments in their already
difficult problem of finding COM
mon ground on cruiser limitation.
6. The American electorate Just
has chosen Herbert Hoover and a
new administration to conduct the
affairs Of government, at a time
when Anglo American relations and
naval disarmament are major prob
lens of the government Therefore,
Hoover rather than Britten would
appear to have the popular man
date for action in this matter.
ID UT all this opposition and argu-
- ment only makes Britten stick
tighter to his self chosen diplomatic
leadership. He says:
For the last twenty-five years
nearly every country on earth has
recognized the right of its parlia-
mentarians to meet and exchange
views on matters relating to a bet
ter understanding among nations,
without presuming they we're n
tringing upon the God-chosen
diplomats.
las far back as 1904 congress APP
propriated $4,000 for expenses con-
nected with the meeting Of the In
terparliamentary Union at st. Louis.
mo one rightfully can say that I
exceeded my authority when I sug-
gested an interparliamentary con-
ference for specific purpose, to
Stanley Baldwin, member of par
lament.
1.-THE whole desire for naval equal
ity SINNERS down to a question Of
sincerity. If the governments of
America and Great Britain really
desire naval limitation agree
ment, all they have to do is TO in
vite each other to another con-
ference.
1T is not necessary to wait until
1881 just because the Washington
agreement of 1922 fixed that date.
The people Of England and Of the
United States expect their govern
nlents to arrive at a friendly UNI
Outstanding and the quicker this
is done the better.
"The question of whether my ca
blegram to member Of the Brit
ish parliament is a violation Of the
Logan act of Revolutionary days
against criminal correspondence
with foreign governments or to
defeat the measures of the United
States is too silly to talk about"
What fe Tho haeahaII tI,roxpIy,ce