Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-12
Nations to RenOunce War

! DIOllDltlOnC, 10 NfiCflu It's territory lJDHl
! attack or invasion, and II alone is COM
/ potent to decide what circumstances
! require recourse to war in self-defense
! If it has a good case, the world will
! applaud and not condemn its action
! Express recognition by treaty Of this
! inalienable right however gives rise
| 10 the same difficulty encountered In
every effort to define aggression It is
the identical question approached from
/ the other side Inasmuch as no treaty
| condition can add to the natural right
| of sclf-defensc, 1t Is not in the interest
! of peace that a treaty should stipulato
! a juristic conception OF sclf-defenSe
! since it is far too easy for the unscrupu-
| lous to null events to accord with an
/ agreed definition.
Mr. Kellogg also was at pains to show
I that the new treaty conficted In nc
/ way with the League Of Nations cove
/ nant or with the treaties of Locarno
! The covenant with the League. 1t is
/ true may be construed as authorizing
1 war in certain circumstances, but
/ according to Mr. Kellogg, it is an su-
/ thoriZation and not a positive require
ment He held too, that If the parties
/ to the LoCerno treaty are under any
/ positive obligation to go to war that
| obligation would not attach until one
| Of the parties had res0rted to war in
violation of its solemn pledges there
under
Double Assurances Cited.
1T is therefore obvious" wrote Mr.
Kellogg that If all the parties to the
Locarno treaties become parties TO the
1 multilateral anti-war treaty proposed
| by the United States. there would be a
/ double assurance that the Locarnc
! treaties would not be violated by re-
/ course TO arms"
/ France suggested finally that all the
nations of the world should be inviteC
! to Join In the proposed multilateral
! treaty for renouncing war While
| acquiescing freely in the desirability ot
having the whole world adhere to this
remuneration Of war, Mr. Kellogg point,
! ed out that there might be considerable
/ delay in the adoption of the treaty 4
an attempt we're made 70 bring every
nation to adherence. He suggested
wisely that after the Is nations which
already have aSsented to the plan hac
signed the treaty, adherence could ht
made readily by the nations. Even nov
I Spain is knocking at the door and So
1t is said. Is Russia. seeking to becom,
SignatoricS 10 the original treaty. Mr.
Kellogg and the State Department
/ however, have been claiming their atti
Jude that II is better to 60 ahead anC
! have the treaty signed by the nation
already listed without opening up nego
tiations and causing further delay.
France was not alone in asking MI
Kellogg for some explanatory clauses re
earding the remuneration of war Grea
Britain called attention to the fact tina
there are certain regions of the worlt
the welfare and integrity Of which
/ constitute a special and vital interes
Tor our peace and safety His mai
eSty's government has been at pain
/ 70 make it clear, i'll the past. that inter
terence with these regions cannot b.
/. suffered It must be clearly understood
/ that his majcStv'S government in Grea
! Britain accept the new treaty upon thu
distinct understanding that il does no
. prejudice their freedom Of action in thi.
respect Mr.. Kellogg was able, how
/ ever, 10 make it clear TO his majesty!
/ government that nothing in the new
/ treaty would in any way interfere witt
action Of Great Britain in the region.
I IN which Sir Austen Chamberlain re
/ f0rr"d in his note on behalf of the Brit.
ish Empire
Nations Must Ratify.
After the treaty shall have beer
signed it will still remain for the con,
/ tracing nations To ratify the treaty IL
/ accordance with their constitutional re.
/ ouirem"ntS, For example, the Senate q
/ he United States will be called upon b.
two-thirds vote TO accept the treaty fo
/ the United States. Doubtless the new
treaty will provoke considerable dcbat,
in this country II seems almost inn
/ possible 10 develop any general inter
national peace scheme which does no
I meet with attack from enc quarter o
another. Already some Of the die-harC
| jsolationistS in the United States arr
taking a fling at Mr. Kellogg and tn
now treaty They say that where Nh
/ Wilson failed to draw the United State
into the politics OF Europe with hi
League of Nations. our Mr. Kellogg /
/ about tn succeed with hts new treaty
/ Generally speaking, however. the atti
tude Of the press and Of the politicians
in this country has been favorable TIL
| administration is hopeful that in tn
end It will be able to line up more thar
/ two-tflrdS Of the Senate for the ratif
. cation Of the treaty.
Gesture to BE Welcomed.
This Is the first time in hIstor,
/ decided To enter into solemn treat,
/ f0rsWearing the practice Of war It i:
a gesture II nothing more, which vii
be welcomed by the peoples Throughout
! the world who are opposed. at least IL
/ principle, TO war The treaty rests fo
its strength alone upon the faithful
! adherence Of the signatory powers Il
their obligations not TO go 10 war Thert
/ is no attempt at super government
| is a mere association of nations In the
interests Of peace and against war /
! has been brought to a point Of accom-
n}ishment without any undue flourish
| OF trumpetS, speedily and with an ear
| nest desire TO advance the cause o
peace evidenced by all powers which
are to sign 1t is no substitute for thu
League Of Nations But il may yet q
down in history as a tremendous for
ward step toward world peace,