Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
COURT ISSUE FACES
. SENATE S|DETRACK
Hoover Held Anxious to Speed
Decision on Reduction of
Naval Armaments.

wait on President Hoover's moves to-
ward an international agreement for
naval reduction.
Despite general expectation that the
President will submit the World Court
question to the Senate next Winter,
since he faVors American adherence in
principle, it was said yesterday on the
responsibility of a Government leader,
that Mr.. Hoover can be expected to give
right of way to the naval question.
The effect of such a course might
be to postpone the World Court ques-
ton until beyond the next regular ses-
sion of Congress If not beyond the con-
gressional elections next year. The
President has been made aware that
the issue would provoke serious and
prolonged controversy, possibly rekindle
the animosities of the old League Of
Nations fight, and conceivably call for
not little presidential pressure TO win
favorable vote in the Senate.
Avoids Complications.
Mr.. Hoover, it appears. prefers not
to complicate tire prospect for getting
the Senate TO go along with him for
naval reduction. either by ratification
of treaty which might be ready for
Senate consideration in the regular
session. or by giving him the latitude
he needs to proceed with his negotia-
tionS.
AS between the two questions, the ad-
ministration chooses to give naval re-
ductlon 1'lt preferred position, not only
because The President considers it fully
as important step toward world peace
as American adherence TO the court
would BE- but also because the court
issue has mad one trial in the Senate.
1t has been pointed out to the Pres
ident by certain Republican Senate
leaders that world court controversy
would be the worst kind of a fore
runner to a Senate naval debate, as
it would almost certainly call up at
tacks on Great britain from the floor.
To follow this up with request for
ratification of treaty which allowed
the American Navy, it was declared,
would be to launch the naval move
under an abnormal handicap.
Massacres Emphasize Attitude.
This point of view has been
emphasized by the massacres IN the
Holy Land, not only because they have
resulted in sharp criticism of the British
as failing to give proper protection to
the Jews, but also, as an example, i'll
the opinion OF anti-League Senators,
of a breakdown of a League of Nations
plan.
This consideration has been ad-
vanced as Of double-barreied potency,
on the ground that it would also figure,
probably, in any attempt to put the
United States behind the World Court,
which has been called the judicial anti
chamber of the League of Nations.
Without committing himself as to
the merit of these arguments, there IS
reason that the President has recognized
the political arguments against putting
an incitive League issue before the
Senate at time when he is preparing
to persuade American public opinion
that 1t is in the best interests of this
country, as we'll as of the world at
large, to adopt a naval agreement
which, he hopes, will end cruiser build
ing competition between the SeapowerS.
In conversation with a leading Sen
ator, the President has expressed the
view within the last few days that the
very spirit of cooperation necessary
agreement would be as forceful as any
other conceivable factor to the end Of
Cutlawing war. At least one Senator
who supported the last effort to bring
about American adherence 10 the
World Court is on record privately to
the effect that another effort in that
direction would have a much better
chance of success if started after
rather than before the naval reduction
debate.
With the, appearance already of
skepticism that the naval accord be-
ing developed between the American
and British governments will not rep
resent actual parity in battle strength,
administration Senators hate taken the
view in recent discussions that il may
be difficult enough to get the naval
treaty ratified as it is without inviting
further complications.
Borah Opposes Root Formula.
The World Court question, when it
does come before the Senate. will meet
the immediate objection of Senator
Borah, chairman Of the Senate foreign
relations committee, who is opposed to
the Root formula. Although it is con-
sidered rather early to gauge Senate
sentiment on this question, there is
feeling in what remains of the cid group
of anti-League irreconcilables that the
Root formula could not command the
required two-thirds majority OF the
Senate unless the President got actively
behind it.
Mr.. Hoover has not publicly ex-
pressed himself with respect TO the
Root formula, but is generally believed
to consider it the best means of bring
ing about American adherence. He had
Elihu Root, its author, at the White
House for lunch, when the latter re-
turned from his mission to Geneva to
try to straighten out the tangle caused
oy the Leagues refusal to accept the ad-
herence of the United States on the
terms laid down by the Senate.
These terms were in the famous
Senate Reservation V, by which the
Senate, while agreeing that the United
States should adhere to the court,
stipulated that thereafter the court
must not, without the consent of the
United States, entertain any request
for an advisory opinion touching any
dispute or question in which the United
States has or claims an interest.
Phrase Is Ambiguous.
League members considered the
phrase has or claims an interest" could
be interpreted to cover any question
whatever and would therefore discrim-
mate in favor of the United States.
The Root formula. arrived at in Mr..
Roots consultation with Jurists of a
special League committee, would pro-
vide that the State Department be first
informed of any question on which the
World Court was asked to act: that If
the question could not be framed to
the State Departments satisfaction,
there should be no misunderstanding if
the United States naturally withdrew
from adherence to the court.
Word received in administration quar-
ters from President Hoover's camp in
the Virginia mountains, where he is
passing the three-day holiday, was to the
effect that Mr.. Hoover passed yesterday
morning in conference with Alexander
Legge, chairman of the new Federal
Farm Board: Arthur NJ Hyde, Secretary
of Agriculture; Walter H. Newton,
White House secretary, and others on
the progress of the administrations
farm relief work to date.
The President was said to be well
satisfied with the Roadway made, con-
side1ing the obstacles encountered.