Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-09
BORAH SEESSNAG
IN ANT|-WAR PACT
Interpretations" by Britain
and France May Delay
Ratification, He Says.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.


after his trip to Paris. he will find that
strange and sudden snag has arisen in
connection with the SenateS attitude
toward the anti-war treaty. The snag
has just been brought to public attcn-
ton by Senator Borah. chairman of
the foreign relations committee OF the
Senate and an earnest advocate of the
treaty's ratification. Borah and other
Senators, he announces, are disturbed
by European suggestions that the in
terpretations' put upon the pact by
c~:tain SignatorieS deprive it Of genuine
value
The 1dahoan is referring In particular
to the interpretations" expressed By
Great Britain and France Between
the lines of his comment on them
Washington diplomatists read a plain
warning that if Europe believes its
interpretations take the teeth out of
the multilateral war-outlswry treaty.
the Senate's attitude. now favorable to
ratification. might be altered
Senators now in Washington" de-
clares Borah. ARE at a loss to under
stand how letters of Interpretation of
the pact, such as those written to the
American Secretary of State. can be
regarded as reservations to the treaty
itself. These reservations were not en-
bodied in the instrument before il was
"a. Senators take the view that these
governments are bound by what they
signed since, in Senators judgment. the
language Of the treaty is specific and
plain
May Conduct Inquiry.
To that admonition Senator Borah
eods the notice that unless some State
ment on this phase of the subject has
been made before Congress convenes. it
Is likely that the foreign relations com
mllttee VIII make formal inquiry of the
State department. before recommending
favorable action by the Senate"
Although an official document of 81 |
pages was issued by Secretary KELLOGG, |
containing the fun text of all the notes |
exchanged between the United States !
and other powers about the snti-wa, |
treaty the American public generally |
is not aware of their contents. It is |
particularly unaware of the true in |
wardness of the notes OF interpreta-
ton" which the British and French |
government submitted at WASHINGTON.
Sir Austen Chamberlain. the British !
foreign minister. laid down his govern
mentS position in series of nine sep
iarate communications between May - |
and July Ii. 1928. Some of these were
written on behalf OF the British over
seas dominions Great Britains own
viewpoint was set forth in note of Ii |
detailed paragraphs.
The British government accepted Mr.. |
lkeilo2gS proposals on condition tll |
that they do not violate Rritain's right |
TO make war in self defense; ~ thst |
they do not abolish Britain's treaty |
engagements" under the League of Ma |
tons covenant or the Locarno pact; 81 |
with - certain regions of the |
world, the welfare and integrity o. |
which constitute special and vital in |
terest for our peace and safety, and |
whose protection against attack is t. |
the British Empire a measure of self |
defense" and t4) that it is agreed that /
violations Of the war remuneration pact |
by one party would free the remaining
parties from the obligation to observe
its terms in respect Of the treaty-break-
ing state" On the last-raiSed> point. |
Sir, Austen Chamberlain insisted on
specific understanding" with Secretary
Kellogg, in which event, Chamberlain
said he would mot ask for the inser-
ton of any amendment" The geo.
graphical regions comprehended by .the !
British interpretations" include the |
Suez Canal and India.
French Provisos.
Frances interpretations after pro-
tracted correspondence between Secre-
in Washington we're finally set down
unqualifiedly by NJ BRAND. French for
eign minister, in note to the United
States in July. BRAND used the word
interpretations" and summarized"
them as follows:
Nothing in the new treaty re-
strains or compromises In any man.
ner whatsoever the right of self-de-
Tense. Each nation in this respect
will always remain free to defend it's
territory e+ainst attack or invasion.
It alone is competent to decide
whether circumstances require re-
course to war in Self-defense.
Secondly, none of the provisions
of the new treaty is in opposition
to the provisions of the Covenant of
the League of Nations nor with those
of the Locarno treaties or the treaties
OF neutrality. Moreover, any viola
ton of the new treaty by one of the
contracting parties would automatic
ally release the other contracting
parties from their obligations to the
treaty-breaking state"
The Coolidge administration has con-
elstentiy taken the view that none of
the interpretations" hereinbefore quoted
Baps the anti-war pact of its vitality.
But 1t Is manifest from Senator Borah's
statement that certain members of the
United States Senate do not whole
heartedly share that view. If Secretary
Kellogg can remove their qualms the
treaty is probably headed for ratif-
cation after Senate discussion that now
and then may wax warm. If any con-
siderable number of Senators remain
convinced that the British or French
interpretations" are. in fact. reserva-
LIONS deliberately intended to convert
The multlateral treaty into an amiable
peace gesture. then the pact may be
neadeo for the rocks on which the
tfeety OF Versailles foundered in Wash
aneton eight years ago.
Inc War-renunCiation pect appears to
nave been playing a part in the recent
niiltsmarket on the New York Stock
exchange At least. one prominent
brokerage house gives Kellogg diplo-
macy credit for the confidence which
the investment world has recently been
revealing IN standard stock and bonds.
Inc concern IN question states that the
treaty OF Paris lis a constructive de-
velopment of great significance. Super-
hclally. 1t might be supposed that the
pact has no connection with the stock
market. but the fact is that our pros
rority is SO we'll founded that nofhino
snort OF war or some unforeseen calam-
II" is likely to interfere with il. The
resegation of war to the realm Of i'm
probability removes menace and be-
comes blessing to mankind not only
here. but in other parts of the world
AS such. it can hardly help being re-
fected in optimistic developments in
our stock market"
tcopyright. 1927
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